Suggestions for feeding a Chinese (Hong Kong) boy please!

[Freckletoes]

Not sure if this is the best place to post this...

My kids attend a day and boarding school (as day pupils) and over the past year we have being having a Hong Kong Chinese friend of my son's to stay on various weekends and Exeats (termly weekend when boarders go home). He is quite a quiet lad-most probably to do with teenage awkwardness, cultural differences and language issues, because apparently amongst a crowd of kids (including other Chinese children) he is quite a character.

My issue is the minuscule amount of food he eats! I discussed this with my son who has told me most of the Chinese boarders tend to go to the local Chinese restaurant every day to buy food and stock up on Spring rolls etc as they don't like the English food! We don't have an issue with going to a local Chinese to eat-even the same one they frequent at school-but I was wondering if anyone can give me any ideas of other food, snacks etc that might suit his palate while he is here. Knowing how much my son eats I'm sure this poor boy must be hungry but is just too polite to say anything!

[amistillsexy]

Could you take him to a Chinese supermarket and let him choose his own snacks? He will probably find things there that he recognises, which might help him.As a teenager, he should be able to rustle up something with some noodles, flavourings/sauces and a pile of fresh veg, I'd have thought.

[Freckletoes]

Great idea-have goggled and found 2 which although aren't close they are manageable and open late so I think we will try and get there after school on Friday so he can choose things he likes and recognises! Looking into it the diets are so different I'm not surprised the kids spend their money at the local takeaway!

[addictedtosugar]

OK, things that would appeal to my cousin:

Plain boiled white rice with every meal (even roast dinner)

steamed fish

this looks more complicated than it needs to be but chow mein

instant noodles from the chinese supermarket

Tesco frozen duck pancakes are the most authentic see here

Probably oranges for fruit - about the only thing that tastes the same fruit wise (tho that might just be great grandma's shopping)
Good luck.