When picking a homestay to stay with, there are usually several meal options. The most common three are:

Half Board

Most students who stay at a homestay will book half-board. This includes breakfast every day and an evening meal. During the day you are out at school — so you can take care of your own food. Sometimes, half board also includes three meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the weekends ; but this varies from school to school and its good to check this before you book your accommodation.

Full-Board

This is three meals a day for the whole week. Lunch during the week is usually sandwiches you can bring to school. This is great if your mother is worried that you will starve, but otherwise you might just want to eat in the school cafeteria or find a nearby food stall to hang out with your friends.

Breakfast Only

As the title suggests — this is just breakfast. This can vary from some milky cornflakes and an apple to a full English Breakfast: beacon & eggs, baked beans and tea together with some marmalade to put on your toast.

Self Catering

This is usually not a homestay option — it means that you take care of all your own meals. Some homestays allow you to cook your own meals, but it is not very common. This option mostly exists with rented apartments.

Eating at the homestay can save you a lot of money and save you lots of time everyday. But you might want to find some flexibility to cook your own meals ; or some hot water to poor onto your instant noodles.