Additional Coverage:
- When I moved abroad, I stopped buying groceries ‘like an American.’ Now, I eat and shop better — and I’ve lost 100 pounds. (businessinsider.com)
From Freezer Burn to Fresh Finds: How Living Abroad Revolutionized One Woman’s Relationship with Food and Led to 100-Pound Weight Loss
A local woman’s journey overseas transformed her grocery habits, her cooking, and ultimately, her health, proving that sometimes, a fresh start is all you need.
For many Americans, the weekend grocery run can feel like a mission to stock a bunker for an impending apocalypse. Long lines, massive carts overflowing with processed snacks, and bulk buys of out-of-season produce are a familiar sight. But for Halona Black, that all changed when she packed her bags and moved abroad.
Black, who candidly admits her American grocery trips often resembled “stockpiling for a global emergency,” found herself filling her cart with “massive bags of frozen vegetable mixes that tasted like freezer burn” and “several packages of cookies that felt like too good a deal to pass up.” This approach to food, she now realizes, was deeply ingrained in a “survival mode” mentality.
In 2018, everything shifted. Moving to Thailand introduced her to a vibrant world of open-air markets, where direct interaction with farmers and a bounty of fresh, seasonal produce became the new norm.
Gone were the warehouse-sized aisles of canned goods; in their place, she found “bright-red, juicy tomatoes, and fragrant greens bundled in bunches and tied with dried raffia.” Even the sight of whole cows being butchered openly was a testament to the unparalleled freshness.
Over the next seven years, as Black “bopped around the world” to countries like Cambodia, Myanmar, Rwanda, and Turkey, this newfound culinary experience remained consistent. “Everything felt alive and fresh,” she recounts, marking the beginning of a profound transformation in her relationship with food.
A Fresh Start for Health
At 40, Black was facing significant health challenges: 100 pounds overweight, grappling with severe anxiety, sleep difficulties, and fibroids. She’d tried numerous diets – raw food, keto, fasting, you name it – but the weight always returned, often with extra pounds, whenever stress hit. Desperate for a change, she sought a slower pace and a focus on high-quality, affordable ingredients.
Initially, even in the vibrant markets of Thailand, old habits died hard. Seduced by the “sweet scent of ripe melons and guava,” she’d “stock up on everything that caught my eye.” However, the sheer freshness of the produce meant a rapid spoilage rate, leading to a refrigerator full of “spoiled fruit, shriveled-up cucumbers, and wilted herbs” by week’s end.
This forced a new rhythm: buying only what was needed for two to three days for fresh produce, while grains, nuts, and spices could be purchased in small bulk. This conscious shift not only reduced waste but also proved to be incredibly budget-friendly.
Black discovered that in most countries abroad, she could spend around $50 a week on groceries, stretching her money further for high-quality, fresh ingredients. This included about $30 on fruits and vegetables, and $20 on “splurge items” like locally made sauerkraut, fresh meat and fish, and gourmet olive oils.
Simplified Meals, Effortless Transformation
Living a nomadic lifestyle, moving every few months, also dictated simpler cooking. With minimal kitchen setups – often just a small refrigerator and a two-burner stove – Black learned to embrace one-pot soups, stir-fries, and colorful salads. She started making her own salad dressings and sauces, eliminating the excess salt and sugar prevalent in pre-made options back home.
This dietary overhaul, coupled with an active lifestyle of daily walking and running along beaches and hillsides, led to an “effortless weight loss.” Over seven years, Black shed a remarkable 100 pounds.
A Lasting Change: No More Stockpiling
Looking back, Black recognizes that her past habit of stockpiling was a reflection of a deeper “survival mode” mindset. Now, her relationship with food is rooted in “seasonality and respect for nature.” She no longer seeks out-of-season produce and cooks only what she plans to eat, often sharing any extras with friends.
By nourishing her body with fresh, wholesome food, Black has gained more than just weight loss. She has more energy to move in ways that feel good, embracing movement not in pursuit of thinness, but because she understands that her body “thrives on movement.” It’s a powerful testament to how a change of scenery, and a fresh perspective on food, can truly transform one’s life.