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Noona 🤍

@brokemeal

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Eating cheap to pay off my uni loan while backpacking
It’s ok to have student loan and be broke.
🇬🇧🇹🇼🇹🇭🇻🇳🇲🇾
RN 🇻🇳
Work : [email protected]

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Sundubu gratin (K-pop diet) inspired by @eatwellscarlett This is one of the best diet food I ever had and it’s so tasty and simple to make. Thanks a lot girl for this recipe. It blew me away.

Ingredients

1) egg tofu
2) 2 eggs
3) shallots
4) Chilli
5) cherry tomatoes
6) chilli sauce
7) chilli oil
8) mozzarella cheese

In a bowl add egg tofu and crack 2 eggs on both sides. Assemble everything else according to your liking mix well. Microwave for 5-6 mins and enjoy! It’s packed with high protein and it would be one of the tastiest weight loss meal or normal meal you have. ❤️ by @brokemeal

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5 months ago

This is the cheapest quickest and tastiest meal you can make under 10 mins. I used to make it every day when I was in Uni and never got tired of it. It’s spicy creamy and has tons of flavours. Plus if you are asian you already know this recipe because this is a staple in many of our homes. 🍚 ✨ by @brokemeal

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9

7 months ago

Why I got kicked out of the UK? So many of you asked me this question. Lemme tell you a story.

I grew up in a very toxic Asian family. In 2019, I decided to leave the country so I took education loan and went to the UK to study. I did well on my masters, got my dream job, gained 4 years of experience, fell in love for the first time, got my 2 fur babies and life was happy and peaceful after so many years of struggle.

Then my visa was due to end, my company couldn’t sponsor due to rule change, and I applied for innovator founder visa endorsement since I was working on that proposal for a while, however, when my solicitor submitted the docs they didn’t submit properly and hence I was so new to that I blindly trusted them and while my visa was pending I could stay and work in the UK. Later they came back and gave me 30 days to leave the country due to lack of documentations etc. my world tilted upside down, but I left in 2025. I was devastated and heart broken for almost 6 months. Didn’t get out of bed, 2025 was rock bottom, my fist breakup, my business shut down, staying away from my cats etc… but then one day while I was in another country I saw 2 cats just like mine out of nowhere the came to me like a reassurance that things are gonna be okay.

All of a sudden my perspective changed, I kept believing in universe, kept moving forward, somehow reached Vietnam, I met another 2 cats they are my Airbnb host’s cats and my instincts just told me to start this page to share my journey and to document my cheap meals since I wanna pay off my education loan as soon as possible to free myself completely from my family and move forward in life.

If you are like me or feeling like nothings working out, trust me when I say this your perspective matters, embrace the mistakes and believe in yourself no matter what.🤍

So this is another quick high protein cheap microwave recipe which helped me through when I’m too tired or lazy. Hope you enjoy!

Ingredients

Eggs, soy sauce, msg, milk, warm water, scallions, egg tofu, chilli oil

Mukbang | eggs | steamed eggs | uni meals | exam meals | Ramadan meals | student recipes | korean food I silken tofu | by @brokemeal

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248

6 months ago

Day 2 of my 10 days soup series 🧚🏻‍♂️🌿✨

Okay I know I was supposed to stick to the sundried tomato paste recipes but I got tempted. I was craving my favourite Tom Kha Gai so badly I just had to make it, I added tofu obviously. 🤍

And for my US and UK auds, I always list what each ingredient would cost you at your local supermarket so you can make this too!

Creamy Tofu Chicken Tom Kha 🌿✨

1. Firm tofu half block 5,000 VND ($0.19) UK: £0.88 (Tesco) USA: $1.11 (Asian grocery)
2. Chicken 30,000 VND ($1.16) UK: £2.50 (Tesco) USA: $3.00 (Walmart)
3. Shimeji mushrooms 7,000 VND ($0.27) UK: £1.50 (specialist grocer) USA: $2.50 (Asian grocery)
4. Onion, galangal, lemongrass, Thai red chilli, kaffir lime leaves 2,000 VND ($0.08) UK: £1.05 (Tesco) USA: $2.50 (Walmart/Asian grocery)
5. Fish sauce and palm sugar 1,000 VND ($0.04) UK: £0.35 (Tesco) USA: $0.80 (Walmart)
6. Salt and oil 1,000 VND ($0.04) UK: £0.10 USA: $0.15
7. Cilantro 800 VND ($0.03) UK: £0.25 (Tesco) USA: $0.15 (Walmart)
8. Fried onions 500 VND ($0.02) UK: £0.20 (Tesco) USA: $0.30 (Walmart)
9. Coconut milk 40,000 VND ($1.55) UK: £0.89 (Tesco) USA: $3.64 (Walmart)
My total: approx $3.42
Estimated UK total: approx £7.72
Estimated USA total: approx $14.15

Directions

1. Heat oil in a pan and fry the cubed tofu until slightly golden.
2. Add onion, galangal, lemongrass, Thai red chilli and kaffir lime leaves. Sauté for 2-3 minutes with a pinch of salt.
3. Pour in one cup of water and one cup of coconut milk.
4. Add the chicken and mushrooms. Cover and cook on low heat for 15 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
5. Add palm sugar, fish sauce and chopped cilantro. Cook for another 5-6 minutes.
6. Finish with fried onions. Enjoy with rice. 🤍
Always remember, having a student loan is ok, not having your life together is ok, problems are ok they all come and go just keep going bro. Rooting for y’all 😎

With love,
Noona 🤍💅 by @brokemeal

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8

7 hours ago

Day 1 of my 10 days tofu soup series 🧚🏻‍♂️🌿✨

I have half a jar of sundried tomato paste to finish in a week so I thought why not do a little soup series for the next 10 days with tofu, sundried tomato paste and whatever I can come up with. Here’s day 1!

Spicy Sundried Tomato Tofu Stew 🧚🏻‍♂️🌿✨

Ingredients

1. Firm tofu half block 5,000 VND ($0.19) UK: £0.88 USA: $1.11
2. Sundried tomato paste 0.25 RM ($0.06) UK: £0.03 USA: $0.10
3. Minced garlic, chopped onion and spring onion 3,000 VND ($0.12) UK: £0.20 USA: $0.20
4. Courgette 6,000 VND ($0.23) UK: £0.40 USA: $0.50
5. Tiny shrimps 14,000 VND ($0.54) UK: £1.50 USA: $2.50
6. Gochugaru 900 VND ($0.03) UK: £0.15 USA: $0.20
7. Mushrooms 7,000 VND ($0.27) UK: £0.80 USA: $1.50
8. Thinly sliced beef 28,000 VND ($1.09) UK: £2.00 USA: $3.50

My total: approx $2.53 ( 2 meals)
Estimated UK total: approx £5.96
Estimated USA total: approx $9.61

Directions

1. Heat oil in a pan and sauté minced garlic, onion and spring onion whites until slightly golden.
2. Add gochugaru and sauté for 2 minutes.
3. Add the sundried tomato paste and cook for 4 minutes.
4. Add cubed tofu, courgette and mushrooms. Pour in warm water, cover and cook on high heat for 6 minutes.
5. Add salt, tiny shrimps and cook for another 5 minutes.
6. Add the thinly sliced beef and simmer for 2 minutes.
7. Finish with scallions and MSG. Enjoy. 🤍

Always remember, having a student loan is ok, not having your life together is ok, problems are ok they all come and go just keep going bro. Rooting for y’all 😎

With love,
Noona 🤍💅 by @brokemeal

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14

2 days ago

Can you eat tofu every day? 🧚🏻‍♂️🌿✨

When I was in KL I found tofu skin pockets and grabbed one because I have been craving inari bombs for so long. Normally I top them with sashimi, tobiko, ikura and one time I even tried it with caviar and it was so good. But since we are saving money I made meatballs as a high protein topping this time. I eat these as a pre workout snack and they are so good. 🤍

Inari Meatball Bomb 🧚🏻‍♂️🌿✨

Ingredients

1. Tofu skin pockets x6 - 7 RM ($1.68) UK: £2.50 USA: $4.00
2. Minced chicken 33,000 VND ($1.28) UK: £1.50 USA: $3.00
3. Minced chicken spice: paprika, gochugaru, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, chilli flakes 3,000 VND ($0.12) UK: £0.15 USA: $0.15
4. Minced shallots and garlic 3,000 VND ($0.12) UK: £0.20 USA: $0.20
5. Cilantro 800 VND ($0.03) UK: £0.25 USA: $0.15
6. Trader Joe’s bagel seasoning $0.50 UK: £0.40 USA: $0.50
7. Sriracha 600 VND ($0.02) UK: £0.10 USA: $0.10
8. Sesame seeds 400 VND ($0.02) UK: £0.10 USA: $0.10

My total: approx $3.77
Estimated UK total: approx £5.20
Estimated USA total: approx $8.20

Directions

1. Mix the minced chicken with spices, shallots, garlic and cilantro. Roll into small meatballs and pan fry until golden.
2. Microwave the rice and mix in chopped cilantro, bagel seasoning and sesame seeds.
3. Wash the tofu skin pockets well and pat dry. Microwave for 2-3 minutes.
4. Fill with rice, top with meatballs and a drizzle of sriracha. Enjoy. 🧚🏻‍♂️

Always remember, having a student loan is ok, not having your life together is ok, problems are ok they all come and go just keep going bro. Rooting for y’all 😎

With love,
Noona 🤍💅 by @brokemeal

119

4

3 days ago

Another day another tofu 🧚🏻‍♂️🌿✨

Last Sunday during negative pull-ups my mind wandered and I sprained my back. Did I stop? No, I finished my full 2 hour session like a complete idiot lol. By the time I got home I couldn’t get out of bed. And honestly the first thing I thought was omg I can’t miss the gym 😭 Cam and Sol were next to me purring and making biscuits at 3am. I told my brain I needed to be healed and slept for 15 hours straight. Woke up with just some stiffness which cleared the next day. I did not miss the gym. Our mindset really is that powerful. But please don’t do what I did, if you’re hurt, go home haha. I think my brain is so delusional now, thinking bad things won’t happen to me🫠

Black Pepper Teriyaki Egg Tofu 🧚🏻‍♂️✨

Ingredients

1. Egg tofu half 6,000 VND ($0.23) UK: £0.90 USA: $1.11
2. Coating: cornstarch and quinoa
3. Sauce: soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, water 1,000 VND ($0.04) UK: £0.10 USA: $0.10
4. Chopped garlic 1,000 VND ($0.04) UK: £0.10 USA: $0.10
5. Black pepper powder 300 VND ($0.01) UK: £0.05 USA: $0.05
6. Cilantro 600 VND ($0.02) UK: £0.25 USA: $0.15

My total: approx $0.34
Estimated UK total: approx £1.40
Estimated USA total: approx $1.51

Directions

1. Coat the egg tofu in cornstarch and quinoa and fry until crispy.
2. Mix the sauce ingredients together and pour over the tofu with chopped garlic and cilantro.
3. Simmer until the sauce thickens.
4. Finish with black pepper. Enjoy. 💛

Always remember, having a student loan is ok, not having your life together is ok, problems are ok they all come and go just keep going bro. Rooting for y’all 😎

With love,
Noona 🤍💅 by @brokemeal

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13

5 days ago

We are nearly 200 days of eating cheap 🧚🏻‍♂️🌿

So what do we do, we make tofu again. I should probably just call this 200 days of eating tofu lol. But honestly this series is beyond eating cheap now. It’s a journey of not giving up, starting from zero, becoming the best version of myself and falling in love with the process of rebuilding every single day. 🤍

Creamy Gochujang Oyster Pepper Tofu 🤍

Ingredients

1. Firm tofu 10,000 VND ($0.39) UK: £1.75 USA: $2.22
2. Bell pepper 9,000 VND ($0.35) UK: £0.50 USA: $0.80
3. King oyster mushroom 9,000 VND ($0.35) UK: £1.50 USA: $2.50
4. Gochujang 1 spoon 2,000 VND ($0.08) UK: £0.20 USA: $0.30
5. Coconut cream 20,000 VND ($0.78) UK: £0.89 USA: $1.50
6. Salt and sugar 700 VND ($0.03) UK: pantry USA: pantry
7. Cilantro 500 VND ($0.02) UK: £0.25 USA: $0.15
8. Spices: black pepper and paprika 1,000 VND ($0.04) UK: £0.10 USA: $0.10

My total: approx $2.04
Estimated UK total: approx £5.19
Estimated USA total: approx $7.57

Directions

1. Slice the firm tofu thin and pan fry with the spices. Set some aside before they get too crispy for 2 textures.
2. In the same pan add sliced mushrooms and bell peppers.
3. Add the gochujang, coconut cream, water and a pinch of salt and sugar.
4. Cover and cook for 6-7 minutes.
5. Add the softer tofu pieces at the end along with cilantro.
6. Enjoy with rice or bread. 🤍

Always remember, having a student loan is ok, not having your life together is ok, problems are ok they all come and go just keep going bro. Rooting for y’all 😎

With love,
Noona 🤍💅 by @brokemeal

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22

6 days ago

Our Rich meal of the month 🤍

I think it’s been a while since I made shrimps 🧚🏻‍♂️🌿

So today we are having creamy tomato shrimps. Also quick tip, have you ever been cooking and the seasonings start sticking to the bottom of the pan? Just add 2 ice cubes and let them do their magic. In about 2 minutes you will be thinking, sticking where? I learned this while waitressing some years ago watching the chefs and honestly it blew my mind. You might already know this but just wanted to share 🧚🏻‍♂️

Creamy Tomato Shrimps 🍅🌿✨

Ingredients

1. Shrimp 200g 110,000 VND ($4.27) UK: £2.49 USA: $5.00
2. Spice mix: garlic powder, paprika, chilli flakes, salt 3,000 VND ($0.12) UK: £0.15 USA: $0.15
3. Tomato puree, 1 spoon from 150k tube ($0.23) UK: £0.03 USA: $0.10
4. Fresh cream 80,000 VND ($3.10) UK: £0.68 USA: $2.00
5. Additional seasonings: mixed herbs, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, sugar 2,000 VND ($0.08) UK: £0.15 USA: $0.15
6. Scallions 800 VND ($0.03) UK: £0.20 USA: $0.15
7. Sliced onions and garlic 5,000 VND ($0.19) UK: £0.20 USA: $0.20
8. Parmesan, 1 spoon from 10 RM pack ($0.06) UK: £0.10 USA: $0.20

My total: approx $8.08
Estimated UK total: approx £4.00
Estimated USA total: approx $7.95

Directions

1. Pan fry the shrimp until slightly charred, 2-3 minutes max. Remove and set aside.
2. In the same pan cook sliced onions and garlic until slightly golden.
3. Squeeze in the tomato puree and cook for 3 minutes.
4. Pour in the fresh cream and add some water from the bowl you marinated the prawns in. Bring to a boil.
5. Add Parmesan, the additional seasonings and the prawns back in.
6. Finish with scallions. Enjoy with rice or fresh baguette. 🤍

Always remember, having a student loan is ok, not having your life together is ok, problems are ok they all come and go just keep going bro. Rooting for y’all 😎

With love,
Noona 🤍💅 by @brokemeal

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19

7 days ago

Another day another tofu 🧚🏻‍♂️🌸🌿

One thing I learned in my early twenties is that I don’t have to prove I’m right. The fear of being misjudged for something I never thought or did used to haunt me so much that I constantly felt this urge to explain myself, thinking that if I just said enough, the other person would finally understand.

But then I realised if someone truly knew you, you wouldn’t have to exhaust yourself trying to make them understand. Why would someone who really knows you put you through that? So I let go. I learned to let things be. I learned the art of being completely unbothered by people and situations that aren’t worth my energy.

Now if someone tells me they don’t trust me, my response is simply “that’s okay” and I never give them access again. 🤍

Today I made spicy tomato tofu prawns. 🌸

Spicy Tomato Tofu Prawns 🌸🌿

Ingredients

1. Egg tofu half 6,000 VND ($0.23) UK: £1.80 USA: $1.11
2. Frozen prawns 20,000 VND ($0.78) UK: £2.49 USA: $3.50
3. 2 tomatoes 10,000 VND ($0.39) UK: £0.40 USA: $0.50
4. Sauce: soy sauce, chilli sauce, paprika, chilli crisp, water 3,000 VND ($0.12) UK: £0.30 USA: $0.30
5. Minced garlic 1,000 VND ($0.04) UK: £0.15 USA: $0.15
6. Scallions 800 VND ($0.03) UK: £0.20 USA: $0.15
7. Salt pantry

My total: approx $1.59
Estimated UK total: approx £5.34
Estimated USA total: approx $5.71

Directions

1. Fry egg tofu cut into rounds in a pan with minced garlic until golden on both sides.
2. Add frozen prawns to one side and let them crisp up a bit.
3. Add chopped tomatoes with a pinch of salt and some water. Cover and cook for 5-6 minutes.
4. Mix the sauce together and pour over. Add water to the same sauce bowl and pour that over too.
5. Finish with scallions. Enjoy with rice. 🤍

Always remember, having a student loan is ok, not having your life together is ok, problems are ok they all come and go just keep going bro. Rooting for y’all 😎

With love,
Noona 🤍💅 by @brokemeal

245

16

9 days ago

Another day another tofu 🧚🏻‍♂️🌿✨

Dubu jorim is my favourite Korean banchan and I could eat this with rice and kimchi every single day. I make different variations depending on my mood, today I wanted to coat the tofu in flour and gochugaru so we are going spicy. 🌶️🤍

Spicy Dubu Jorim 🌶️🌿

Ingredients

1. Firm tofu 11,000 VND ($0.43) - UK: £1.50 - USA: $2.22
2. Sauce: soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar, gochugaru, shallots, chilli, spring onion whites 5,000 VND ($0.19) - UK: £0.50 - USA: $0.70
3. Tofu coating: plain flour and gochugaru 3,000 VND ($0.12) - UK: £0.15 - USA: $0.15
4. Scallions 700 VND ($0.03) - UK: £0.20 - USA: $0.15
5. Minced garlic 1,000 VND ($0.04) - UK: £0.15 - USA: $0.15

My total: approx $0.81
Estimated UK total: approx £2.50
Estimated USA total: approx $3.37

Directions

1. Cut tofu into rectangular pieces, pat dry and sprinkle with salt.
2. Coat each side in the flour and gochugaru mix.
3. Fry on both sides until slightly crispy.
4. Add minced garlic and let it lightly brown.
5. Mix the sauce ingredients with some water and pour over the tofu.
6. Braise for 4-5 minutes.
7. Finish with scallions and black pepper. Enjoy with rice. 🤍

Always remember, having a student loan is ok, not having your life together is ok, problems are ok they all come and go just keep going bro. Rooting for y’all 😎

With love,
Noona 🤍💅 by @brokemeal

1k

12

10 days ago

Another day another tofu 🌼🌿✨

Growing up I didn’t like tofu. I didn’t even want to give it a chance, I was completely prejudiced, which isn’t fair. I have a very weak stomach and even though I’m a massive foodie there’s so much I can’t eat because it upsets me, so growing up I stuck to chicken and fish. Then as an adult I decided to start trying new things and suffer a little lol.

The moment everything changed was when my friend made me kimchi jjigae with tofu and I literally closed my eyes and tried the tofu. The rest is history. Tofu became the love of my life and I cannot live without it now. 🤍

Today we made dak galbi jjigae (kimchi gochujang chicken stew). My favourite stew in the whole world. I could eat this every single day.

Dak Galbi Jjigae 🌶️🤍

Ingredients

1. Egg tofu 14,000 VND ($0.54) - UK: £1.80 - USA: $2.22
2. Chicken breast 30,000 VND ($1.16) - UK: £2.50 - USA: $4.50
3. Onion half, garlic, ginger, red chilli 3,000 VND ($0.12) - UK: £0.25 - USA: $0.30
4. Chicken marinade: gochujang and gochugaru 4,000 VND ($0.16) - UK: £0.40 - USA: $0.60
5. Gochujang 1 spoon 2,000 VND ($0.08) - UK: £0.20 - USA: $0.30
6. Kimchi 8,000 VND ($0.31) - UK: £1.50 - USA: $2.50
7. 2 eggs 5,000 VND ($0.19) - UK: £0.80 - USA: $0.50
8. Scallions 800 VND ($0.03) - UK: £0.20 - USA: $0.15
9. Black pepper powder 600 VND ($0.02) - UK: £0.10 - USA: $0.10

My total: approx $2.61
Estimated UK total: approx £7.75
Estimated USA total: approx $11.17

Directions

1. In a pan fry half the egg tofu cut into rounds.
2. Add onions, garlic, ginger and red chilli and sauté for 3 minutes.
3. Add the marinated chicken, gochujang, chopped kimchi and hot water. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
4. Crack in 2 eggs and add the remaining egg tofu. Cover and cook until the eggs are set.
5. Finish with scallions and black pepper. Enjoy with rice. 🤍

Always remember, having a student loan is ok, not having your life together is ok, problems are ok they all come and go just keep going bro. Rooting for y’all 😎

With love,
Noona 🤍💅 by @brokemeal

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13

12 days ago