How To Buy British Food As An Expat part 1 – that will be the topic of today’s article.
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The best time to consider your financial situation is when you are moving to a new country.
Introduction
When you build up your dream of moving to another country, you will inevitably imagine yourself eating lots of traditional foods in cozy cafes and restaurants with the locals. You may also have visions of walking through farmer’s markets or grocery stores where there are so many choices that they are overwhelming.
When it comes down to buying food, once you’re living in your new home, you are required to go down to the supermarket for some essentials, but what about all the British food you had dreamed of? There are ways that you can still get it.
One way is through buying imported British foods from online stores on websites like Amazon or eBay. You can find many items on these sites, including milk, beef jerky, cookies, and any other British food you could want.
Another way is to go directly to a British store website through a search engine such as Yahoo! or Google. These sites will give you the location of a brick-and-mortar store in your area. Sites like these can also help find British newspapers, magazines, and gift items.
If you want to be more adventurous about finding different foods from your new home country, you need to look through UK newspapers or even chat with middle-aged expats that have been in your area for a while. In this article, we will walk you through the best ways to buy British food as an expat. Not only is that, but you’ll know some of the best restaurants to buy British food.
Benefits of Buying British Food as an Expat
As an expat, you might be tempted to seek out convenience foods rather than cooking everything yourself. While it’s true that many of the international food brands are cheaper, they’re also made with inferior ingredients that lead to poorer health. British quality foods provide expats with a range of health benefits, including the following.
Lower Obesity Rates
A 2021 government inquiry found that 15% of people eat no fruit or vegetables and that obesity rates are rising faster in the UK than in any other European nation. One reason put forward is poor quality produce; according to this study, people who regularly buy cheap food (which tends to be much less fresh) have 50% higher obesity rates than those buying organic.
Avoiding Unnecessary Antibiotics
Of 949 samples of raw chicken tested in the UK, only one contained antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Many are imported from Asia or South America, where newly reared animals are often given higher unregulated supplements. These can be passed on to humans if the food isn’t properly stored.
Longer-Lasting Products
British supermarkets have an ample supply chain which allows them to keep produce fresh for much longer, meaning expats won’t need to shop as often. Many foreign brands use cheap processing techniques that require preservatives and ultra-high levels of hydrogen peroxide, which can leave food carcinogenic after just a few months in storage.
Increased Nutritional Value
Because the average British front garden is much smaller than foreign countries, homegrown produce is incredibly fresh and picked at its peak; this ensures that vitamins and minerals are held at their highest levels. By contrast, imported fruits and vegetables can spend weeks on shelves or in transport before they reach customers’ hands.
Stronger Teeth and Bones
According to a recent study, British children have the strongest teeth in Europe; this is especially notable because dental hygiene is generally considered much better elsewhere on the continent. Other research has found that non-organic mineral water (a common substitute for fruit juice) strengthens bones and overall bone density.
Increased Quality Of Life
The inquiry listed above also found that people who mainly bought British products were happier and more satisfied with life than those who favored international goods (brought into the country to avoid tariffs).
This may be due to higher living standards; expats who choose not to cook for themselves can often afford takeout meals, which will contain fresher ingredients than the processed meals they would otherwise be stuck with.
Greater Flavor and Variety
The combination of terroir and traditional food preservation techniques such as curing, pickling, smoking, and kitting means that British produce has a fantastic range of tastes. This can add a fascinating new dimension to expat cooking while still allowing them to enjoy the traditional cuisine of their adopted country.
7 Best Places to Buy British Food as an Expat
As an expat, you will most likely live outside of your home country. Thus, there are many things that you miss about the old country, things like food. Luckily for most British who move abroad, one of those foods is easily accessible to them, with most supermarkets offering expanded food sections for famous British brands known across the globe like Walkers, Cadbury, and McVitie’s.
These products are not only tasty like some American foods can be, but also quite healthy. For those who live by the coast or near England, there is even the opportunity to purchase British seafood, which never fails to amaze anyone who has tried it whether they are on holiday in Britain or abroad.
But for those who can’t find British imported foods at their local supermarket and either doesn’t live near the sea or just want to try something new, there are other great places to purchase British food in a restaurant. Here we talk about seven of the best places with great examples of each.
1. Chicken Republic
Chicken Republic is a restaurant that specializes in American food with a British twist. With locations around the world, it makes for an international taste experience.
For those looking to try chicken and chips (French fries), this place will give you exactly what you’re craving while still having enough traditional British dishes like bangers and mash (sausages and mashed potatoes) and shepherd’s pie (ground beef and fried pumpkin).
2. Piebury Corner
Piebury corner is a take-out restaurant with the best pies, pasties (meat and potatoes in flaky dough), and sausage rolls around. This quaint little shop makes for the perfect snack on the go; we recommend trying one of their steak and ale pies.
3. BrewDog Bar
Brewdog bar may be known for its wide selection of craft beer, but that is not the only food they offer to keep you coming back. Their menu has plenty of great British dishes themed like the Full Scottish breakfast (bacon, eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes) or bubble and squeaks (fried cabbage and potatoes), all available to eat in or take out.
4. Ed’s Diner
Ed’s Diner has one of the best menus we’ve ever seen at a place that is mainly a breakfast and lunch place. With options like scones, beans on toast (toast with baked beans), and even bangers and mash, Ed’s diner is an excellent spot to get a traditional British meal, even if it is almost lunchtime.
5. The Lord Moon of the Mall
The Lord Moon of the Mall is a food stand with an assortment of different snacks to choose from. For those looking for something sweet, they have everything from traditional British pastries like scones with jam and cream to bacon-wrapped dates (dates stuffed with blue cheese in bacon wraps) or peanut butter chocolate brownies.
For those looking for something a little more savory, they offer plenty of options, from tuna baguettes and chicken and beef burgers to fish and chips.
6. Patty and Bun
Patty and bun is another great place to go if you want a variety of British food without the need for reservations at an expensive restaurant.
They have classic British dishes with a modern twist like their take on the Full English breakfast (2 banger patties, bacon, egg, and tomato relish) or Bury black pudding (black pudding wrapped in streaky bacon). Not to mention they have things like pulled pork fries and Buffalo wings.
7. Pizza East
Pizza East has great pizza and plenty of British food for those who aren’t big on traditional pizza. To name a few, they offer fish and chips, bangers and mash (sausages and mashed potatoes), Scotch eggs (hardboiled egg wrapped in sausage), steak pie, pork scotch (steak with mushrooms), and even haggis.
