Singapore’s food culture is rich, comforting, and deeply personal. Asking people to give up their favourite dishes rarely works. A more sustainable approach is to make small, thoughtful swaps that improve balance without sacrificing enjoyment. Healthy eating isn’t about perfection — it’s about making better choices more often.

Singaporean Chicken Rice

Singapore Chicken Rice

Chicken Rice: How to Enjoy It More Mindfully

Chicken rice is a national favourite, but small tweaks can significantly improve its nutritional balance:

  • Choose steamed or roasted chicken

  • Remove the skin when possible

  • Ask for less rice

  • Add vegetables or soup

You still get the familiar taste, with less fat and a better balance of nutrients.

Noodles: Lighter Options That Still Satisfy

Opt for sliced fish soup, ban mian, mee sua, or kway teow soup

Noodle dishes can vary greatly in richness:

  • Choose soup-based noodles more often

  • Opt for sliced fish soup, ban mian, mee sua, or kway teow soup

  • Limit thick gravies and oily sauces

Soupy noodle dishes tend to be more filling with fewer calories.

Fried Foods: Enjoy, But Not Every Day

Fried foods are part of Singapore’s food landscape, from fried chicken to goreng snacks. Rather than cutting them out completely:

  • Treat fried items as occasional choices

  • Share fried sides instead of ordering individual portions

  • Balance fried meals with lighter meals later

Frequency matters more than complete avoidance.

Curries, Laksa, and Rich Dishes

Curries, Laksa, and Rich Dishes

Creamy or coconut-based dishes are flavourful but calorie-dense:

  • Enjoy them occasionally

  • Avoid finishing all the gravy

  • Pair them with vegetables or protein-heavy sides

Mindful enjoyment helps prevent overconsumption.

Drinks and Sauces Matter Too

Water, plain tea, kopi/Teh

Even a balanced meal can become less healthy with sugary drinks or heavy sauces:

  • Choose water, plain tea, or kopi/teh with less sugar

  • Use sauces sparingly

  • Taste food before adding extra condiments

These habits quietly reduce sugar and salt intake.

Conclusion

Healthy eating doesn’t mean giving up Singapore’s favourite dishes. With small swaps and mindful choices, local food can remain part of a balanced, enjoyable lifestyle. The most effective diet is one you can sustain — and enjoying familiar foods makes healthy habits easier to keep. PRIME

Author

  • PRIME is a bi-monthly health and lifestyle magazine for those aged 40 and above. Published since 2006 by Spring Publishing, it features inspiring cover stories of celebrities, as well as other health and lifestyle information. Prime has also featured leading celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Angelina Jolie, Kate Winslet, Mary Buffett, and many others.

    Each issue contains a Special Feature that covers a specific theme or topic, a Cover Story, an Ask the Doctor section (where doctors answer readers’ questions), Nutrition and Well-being segments, and Leisure and Lifestyle content.

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