Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand April / May 2015 - The Health & Wellness Issue | Page 21

TASTY
CONVERSATIONS
Hints for Healthy Eating
by Sarah Dean
Illustrations: Shutterstock

W

hether you’re a healthy eater or a picky eater, a handful of everyday
Thai phrases can help you get what you want—and avoid what
you don’t want—when ordering food in Thailand. Before your plea,
remember to say kor tawt kah (f.) or kor tawt krup (m.), which means “sorry
to trouble you.” Be sure to include a khup khun ka (f.) or khup khun krup (m.)
immediately after your request, too. These phrases will work wonders in making your request polite.

THE ESSENTIALS
Don’t add.............................................................. mai sai*
I don’t want.......................................................... mai ow
I’d like..................................................................... ow/kor
*Literally translates to “don’t put”

AT A CAFE
I’d like non-fat milk............................................ ow nom ‘no fat’
No sugar............................................................... mai sai nam dtaan
Just a little sugar................................................ nam dtaan nit noi

AT A THAI RESTAURANT
No MSG................................................................. mai sai choo rot
No fish sauce....................................................... mai sai nam pla
No meat. I’m vegetarian.................................. mai sai neua. Gin mang
No coconut milk................................................. mai sai ka-tee
Steamed................................................................ nung
No soy sauce....................................................... mai sai see yiuw
Only a little oil..................................................... naman nit noi
Tip: Emphasise by saying “niiiiit noi” to really stress only a little.

SOME LIKE IT HOT
Spicy....................................................................... phet (pronounced ‘pet’)
Chilli....................................................................... prik
No chilli................................................................. mai sai prik
A little spicy please........................................... phet nit noi
Spicy....................................................................... phet
Very spicy............................................................. phet maak
Tip: Each restaurant’s interpretation of spicy will differ from place to place.
What might be phet nit noi in one restaurant may be phet in another restaurant
down the street.

Food
DID YOU KNOW?
Glugging water will not relieve the burning sensation
of hot food. Instead, eat a couple of spoonfuls of plain rice.
In curries, the spiciness is often
more prevalent in the sauce,
so pick out the meat and leave