One of the biggest vices I’ve experienced while being here is overeating! Everything is cheap and in small portions that my American appetite craves for more. Maybe I am just a beast in general, as my friend Nina likes to say. However, even I recognize the benefits of living in a developing country, particularly when it comes to dining out. Food is so affordable, especially for anyone with dollars in their pockets.
Mang Inasal is a perfect example of cheap dining. The price of a large piece of chicken breast (bbq’d to perfection) and unlimited rice is ONLY 90 php (roughly $2). When I came to the Philippines in July, the bright green “Mang Inasal” was like a call from heaven. After paying ten bucks or more for meals in D.C., I welcomed the cheap and yummy eats the Philippines had to offer. At the cost of my figure, I indulged like crazy the first couple months until I realized the obese trap I was getting myself into.
After living here for almost half a year, it is still difficult to eat in moderation. Nowadays, I look forward to moving back to the states so I can be more cautious of the money I’m spending on food (e.g. Safeway groceries, Wisey’s sandwiches, and Panda Express lunches) and make an effort to limit my food intake in fear of being broke after one meal.