Comfort Food Recipes for International Students
Feeling homesick while studying abroad? Comfort food recipes can help you feel better, more connected, and less alone. These familiar dishes do more than fill your stomach — they bring back memories, comfort your mind, and remind you of who you are.
- Managing academic stress while adapting to a new education system
- How to avoid burnout during exam periods as an international student
- Time management tips to balance studies and mental health abroad
- Using mindfulness techniques to reduce test anxiety overseas
- How to talk to professors about mental health challenges as an international student
- Creating a study group abroad for mutual mental support
- Why the mental health resources are important
- How to cope with homesickness during your first month studying abroad
- Easy at-home rituals to reduce homesickness when far from family
- Best ways to use video calls to fight loneliness and homesickness
- How to find and use university mental health resources effectively
- What Is Financial Stress?
Why Cooking Familiar Foods Helps Your Mental Health
Moving to a new country brings big changes. New language, new culture, new routines. And sometimes, that means feeling stressed, lonely, or homesick. Cooking meals from your home country can help you feel safe and emotionally supported.
Here’s why it works:
- Familiar food brings back good memories, which can lift your mood.
- Smells and tastes calm the body, helping you relax.
- Cooking gives you a routine and a goal, which can reduce feelings of sadness or anxiety.
The Association for Psychological Science says that “nostalgic memories increase feelings of connection and purpose.”
What Makes a Food Comforting?
Comfort food isn’t always fancy or heavy. It’s food that retells you of home, love, and attention. That could be:
- Your favorite meal from childhood
- Street food from your neighborhood
- A dish made during holidays or festivals
- A simple soup or rice dish you had during exam time
What matters most is the emotional connection.
Simple Recipes from Different Regions (Made for Student Life)
These easy recipes are perfect for small kitchens, limited budgets, and busy schedules.
South Asia: Dal Chawal (Lentils and Rice)
Why it helps: Warm, filling, and easy to digest — this dish is a go-to comfort meal for many South Asians.
You’ll need:
- 1 cup red lentils
- 3 cups water
- 1 chopped onion, 1 chopped tomato
- Garlic, turmeric, cumin, salt
Steps:
- Wash the lentils well.
- Boil with turmeric, salt, and water.
- In another pan, cook onion, garlic, cumin, and tomato.
- Add this to the lentils. Serve with plain rice.
East Asia: Egg Fried Rice
Why it helps: Fast, tasty, and reminds many students of quick meals at home.
You’ll need:
- Leftover rice
- 2 eggs
- Soy sauce, green onions, sesame oil
Steps:
- Scramble eggs and remove from pan.
- Stir-fry rice in sesame oil.
- Add soy sauce and mix in the eggs.
- Top with chopped green onions.
Middle East: Shakshuka
Why it helps: Flavorful, warm, and great for sharing — shakshuka is both comforting and healthy.
You’ll need:
- 2 eggs
- 2 tomatoes, garlic, onion
- Paprika, cumin, chili flakes
Steps:
- Cook onion and garlic, then add chopped tomatoes and spices.
- Simmer until thick.
- Crack in eggs and cover until cooked.
- Eat with bread.
East Asia: Egg Fried Rice
Why it helps: Jollof is a dish full of flavor and cultural pride — it feels like a celebration on a plate.
You’ll need:
- Rice
- Tomato paste, garlic, onion
- Bell pepper, scotch bonnet (optional), seasoning cube
Steps:
- Blend tomato, onion, and pepper.
- Cook the mixture in a pan with spices.
- Add rice and water. Let it simmer until done.
- Serve with a fried egg or plantain.
Latin America: Arepas (Basic Recipe)
Why it helps: Warm, simple, and flexible — arepas feel like home for many Latin American students.
You’ll need:
- Pre-cooked cornmeal (like PAN)
- Water, salt
- Optional: cheese, beans, avocado
Steps:
- Mix cornmeal, water, and salt to form dough.
- Make small round patties.
- Grill or pan-fry until golden.
- Cut open and fill with toppings.
How Cooking Becomes a Mental Health Habit
Turning cooking into a regular habit can make a big difference in your mental health.
- Chop slowly and mindfully. Focus on the sound and feel.
- Cook with friends or video call family while cooking.
- Do it once a week. Having a food ritual brings structure.
- Play music from home. This deepens the emotional comfort.
Sharing Your Food Culture Builds Connection
Cooking for others can help you feel proud and less alone. Friendship can be improved in this way.
- You introduce others to your culture.
- You feel recognized and respected.
- You create chances of linking, even without good English.
Food becomes a way to show love — without needing words.
Common Problems (And Easy Fixes)
“I don’t know how to cook.”
Start with one easy dish. Watch videos in your native language or ask a family member to guide you.
“I don’t have time.”
Cook more on the weekend and freeze extra.
“It doesn’t taste like home.”
That’s okay. The process of cooking still brings comfort — even if it’s not perfect.
Cooking as a Simple Form of Self-Therapy
Cooking activates your senses, keeps your hands busy, and gives you something to feel proud of. Therapists use this kind of activity in mental health treatment, especially for:
- Stress and anxiety
- Low energy or motivation
- Depression
Cooking also helps you feel more in control — a key part of emotional health.