I Let Instagram Choose My Halal Meals for a Week—Here’s What Actually Happened

You ever scrolled through Instagram and suddenly you’re starving? Yeah… same.

But instead of just looking at the food like I normally do, I had a wild idea: what if I actually let Instagram decide what I eat for a whole week?

No meal plans. No second-guessing. No “what should I eat today?” nonsense.

I just followed the feed.

And here's the plot twist—it turned out to be one of the tastiest, most chaotic, most unexpectedly fun food weeks I’ve ever had. Between takeout orders, random recipe attempts, and a few “what am I doing?” moments, this experiment taught me more than I thought it would.

So grab a snack. Let’s dig in.

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Day 1: The Burger That Broke Me (In a Good Way)

Image credit: Mel Audelo

It started innocently. I searched “halal food near me,” and boom—up popped a juicy, saucy, double smash burger. It was dripping in melted cheese and topped with a spicy sauce that made my mouth water through the screen.

One swipe. One craving. One takeout order later… it was in my hands.

And wow. Crispy edges, soft buns, flavour explosion. Was it healthy? Absolutely not. Was it worth it? You bet.

Takeaway: If the comments under a food reel look like a fire emoji convention, it’s probably worth trying.

Day 2: Crunchy, Sticky, Spicy Perfection

Image credit: Ivan Babydov

Scrolling that night turned into a full-blown deep dive into Korean halal food. Yes, that’s a thing. And YES, it’s incredible.

The reel I saw featured Korean-style fried wings glazed in soy garlic sauce. I could hear the crunch through my headphones.

The next day, I grabbed a takeout version from a local halal joint that does it right. It was sweet, spicy, sticky, and crunchy in all the right ways.

Takeaway: Instagram doesn’t lie when it comes to crunchy sounds. Trust the audio.

Day 3: Kunafa Cheesecake… But Make It DIY

Image credit: Razane Adra

Midweek sweet tooth kicked in HARD.

I saw a reel for kunafa cheesecake and instantly needed it. But no one nearby made it. Tragedy? Nope. I found a simple version in the comments and made it myself.

Shredded pastry, sweet cream cheese filling, pistachios on top. Took me 45 minutes and made me feel like a dessert queen… I mean king.

It was a little messy, slightly uneven, but tasted like heaven.

Takeaway: When in doubt, try the recipe. Even if it’s your first time, Instagram makes it feel doable. And it usually is.

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Day 4: Garlic Sauce for President

This day was all about wraps. I clicked on a food blogger’s post and committed to whatever was in that reel. No questions asked.

Grilled chicken wrap. Crunchy pickles. Garlic sauce so strong it could end arguments. Fries inside the wrap? Yes please.

Took a chance on a takeout version and was instantly obsessed.

Takeaway: You don’t need to scroll for hours. Just eat what the last foodie posted. Done.

Day 5: The Ultimate Food Market Scroll

Image credit: Clem Onojeghuo

Today I searched “halal food market” and wow—did I fall into a rabbit hole.

Instagram showed me a weekend halal pop-up with birria tacos, Turkish dumplings, biryani bowls, desserts, and more. Vendors had linked their pages, and guess what? Some of them delivered.

So I ordered a little from everywhere. Variety, spice, and surprise in one bag.

Takeaway: Don’t ignore those market reels. They’re often goldmines for food discovery, especially if the vendors are tagged.

Day 6: 30-Minute Biryani… Myth or Magic?

Image credit: Suchandra Varma

Okay, hear me out. I saw a reel that promised biryani in 30 minutes.

I had trust issues. But I also had time and leftover chicken, so I gave it a shot.

Used ready spice mix, layered the rice, added crispy onions, and boom—homemade biryani that actually hit the spot. Was it your grandma’s version? No. Did it smell amazing? Yes. Was I proud? Absolutely.

Takeaway: Not all reels are fake flexes. Some are shortcut masterpieces waiting to be tested.

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Day 7: No-Bake Chocolate Date Bombs

I wanted to end light. Searched “halal dessert no bake” and up popped a reel of chocolate-dipped stuffed dates. Minimal effort, maximum vibes.

I filled Medjool dates with nut butter, dipped them in melted dark chocolate, rolled them in crushed nuts, and chilled them.

Boom. Sweet, crunchy, satisfying. Healthy-ish. And a zero oven is required.

Takeaway: Instagram is secretly loaded with 3-ingredient dessert gold. Don’t scroll past the easy stuff.

The 5 Big Things I Learned from This Week

Alright, here’s the deal. This wasn’t just a gimmick. It worked. Here’s what stood out:

1. Instagram is a food compass.

Search by dish, not restaurant. “Halal wings,” “halal tacos,” “halal dessert”—the algorithm will serve you the best content faster than Google.

2. Takeout wins, but DIY feels good too.

Half of what I ate was delivered. The other half? Reel-inspired recipe experiments. And honestly, cooking what I saw made it feel more rewarding.

3. The real magic is in the comments and tags.

That’s where you find actual opinions, small vendors, and homemade versions from regular people. Read. Click. Explore.

4. Recipes don’t have to be scary.

Reels make even the most intimidating dishes look doable. Don’t overthink. Try. Worst case? You learn something. Best case? You’re eating something amazing.

5. You’ll eat better when you stop thinking so hard.

This challenge made me step out of my food comfort zone. And I ended up eating way better than usual.

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Final Thoughts

Would I do this again? 1000%.

Did I eat like a king for a week? Without a doubt.

Was it fun, messy, and slightly unhinged? Absolutely.

If you’re stuck in a food rut, let Instagram take the wheel for a week. Follow a hashtag, trust a reel, cook something new, or order something unexpected. It’s like foodie roulette but with way better odds.

And if you end up creating your own reel-worthy dish by accident? Even better.