We ask our families to provide students with breakfast, lunch and a cooked evening meal every day.
Teenagers often want to sleep until midday and as they have to get up early at school they love the fact that they are allowed to sleep in at their host family. For this reason, breakfast sometimes can be quite late. Continental breakfast of toast and cereals is quite acceptable but a cooked breakfast is always very welcome, especially at weekends.
Students are used to hot meals at home and school but this does not mean that your routine needs to change. Lunch can be a light meal, sandwiches or soup with fruit or yoghurt for dessert.
The evening meal should be at least two courses and should contain either meat, fish, egg or cheese. Some students want their lunch made for them but older students may be happier to make it for themselves provided you are happy for them to do so.
We encourage students to take all meals with you if possible. As you get to know the student you will learn what they like to eat and their routine. The best way to learn quickly is to ask them. Some students enjoy cooking and may even be pleased to cook for your family too.
Students often have food preferences for example vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian. In addition some students have food allergies or religious beliefs which may impact on the food that they are able to eat, and the preparatory methods. Before your student arrives, you will be notified of any particular food intolerances that exist with your student.
Snacks
You may not mind at all but students should not expect to help themselves and ‘snack’ in between meals. We suggest you do encourage them to ask. If hungry (teenagers are often growing fast!) something like biscuits, cake or some fruit should be available. A hot drink and some toast or biscuits before bed is often required and much appreciated. Students should have pocket money with them to buy their own sweets and crisps as well.
Sometimes, students can seem to have bad table manners. Remember, for some of them, they have only just become accustomed to using a knife and fork as they are only used to using chopsticks. It is also customary in China to spit food out of the mouth without touching it—anyone who has eaten with a Chinese family will know that what is considered polite, hygienic and acceptable in China is quite different from here. Although it is important for host families to respect the cultural differences and therefore not be offended by this, it also really helps students if you can gently teach them what we do in the UK. This will help them integrate more at school and university and in the future.