Commentary: Healthier options ‘killing the hawker vibe’? Why so resistant, Singaporeans?
SINGAPORE: Mention the phrase "salubrious bell-ringer food" to a typical Singaporean on the street, and images of sterile bowls of bland noodles with awkward lettuce leaves may conjure to heed.
Indeed, in our society, the word "good for you" has grown to become synonymous with "bland-tasting" over the years.
With chronic lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and eye diseases on the rise, and a well-documented part of diet in the prevention and management of these weather condition, how then tin nosotros work towards changing deep-rooted mindsets and setting Singaporeans on the path towards a healthier lifestyle?
An obvious choice of strategy that comes to mind is to start by altering the environment where Singaporeans frequent, which are the hawker centres, due to their relative affordability and accessibility.
Withal, as public healthcare workers may have quickly come up to learn, working with hawkers to issue changes is not an like shooting fish in a barrel task.
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KILLING THE Hawker VIBE?
Having spent years of serving up and perfecting traditional dishes, the hawkers take pride in their recipes, which have garnered a stiff customer base of operations over the years. As hawkers struggle to notice their footing in the face up of increasing rental and nutrient prices, charting into unfamiliar grounds of serving up healthy bell-ringer nutrient may also inevitably be assigned a lower priority.
Meanwhile, Singapore, with its diverse and culturally rich dishes to offer, has gained its reputation as a food paradise. Singaporeans are known to flock to stalls where queues are amidst the longest, placing accent on the gustatory modality and authenticity of local food.
Hence, there is the sentiment that hawker centres should be left to their ain devices, as healthier changes in the hawker centres may be "killing the hawker vibe". After all, are in that location not already healthy eating places such as salad bars, which serves the purpose for those seeking healthier choices?
There are as well the feelings of familiarity and comfort associated with consuming the traditional favourites, along with pleasant memories of enjoying these together with family or friends, which are hard to detach.
Simply WAIT, Permit'S Await AT Health SURVEYS
However, with the 2010 National Nutrition Survey showing a majority of Singaporeans consuming hawker food, with 60 per cent having it for tiffin or dinner at to the lowest degree four times each week, there is pertinent need to improve food choices in hawker centres.
Similarly, according to the Food Frontward Trends Report in 2022 by Weber Shandwick, 81 per cent of Singaporeans surveyed said they opt for hawker food virtually often when they eat out.
1 solution to meliorate the diet of Singaporeans without rocking the boat would be to provide healthier alternatives at hawker centres, without phasing out traditional bell-ringer favourites.
As it is the thing we do day-to-day that makes a deviation, if we are able to select healthier choices almost of the time, we would non accept to eliminate these traditional favourites completely.
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HUGE Claiming TO CONVINCE SINGAPOREANS, NOT But HAWKERS
Despite the challenges abound, it is encouraging to see the Health Promotion Lath staff reaching new grounds in the hawker centres, moving towards their target of getting 40 per cent of bell-ringer stalls to offering at to the lowest degree one healthier dish by 2019. However, the colossal challenge remains to convince cardinal stakeholders to embrace the change, which are Singaporeans themselves.
With many Singaporeans already accustomed to the gustatory modality of rich hawker dishes, irresolute habits and taste preferences is not an piece of cake feat. Nonetheless, the good news is that given fourth dimension, habits and taste buds can modify.
If Singaporeans are willing to stride out of their comfort zone and endeavor out the healthier bell-ringer options, they may find for themselves that they are just as capable of existence tasty, wholesome and filling. They are as well likely to develop a palate for healthier dishes over fourth dimension, and learn to notice a balance between the occasional care for foods.
By offer consumers options, hawkers tin create a platform for them to switch to healthier options when they are set up, such every bit by offering both brownish and white rice options. As consumer demand grows, hawkers would besides have greater incentives to offering healthier options.
As the saying goes, "If not me, who? If not now, when?" If we can step forward to brand a commitment towards improving our health, we can all work towards building a salubrious surroundings for both our loved ones and ourselves.
Ng Zi Ling Jolyn Johal is senior dietitian at the National Academy Hospital.
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/healthy-hawker-food-no-such-thing-hpb-217796
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