HPB Launches Campaign to Promote Healthy Eating, Lifestyle Habits in Malay/Muslim Community for Ramadan

In an ideal world, brussels sprouts would taste like chocolate cake, sleeping for eight hours would burn as many calories as a marathon, and a chendol a day would keep the doctor away.

Sadly, reality isn’t that sweet.

We constantly have to watch what we eat, especially over festive periods when we tend to get carried away.

HPB Launches Campaign to Promote Healthy Eating, Lifestyle Habits in Malay/Muslim Community for Ramadan

Which is exactly why the Health Promotion Board (HPB) launched a public education campaign on Sunday (11 Apr) to promote healthy eating and lifestyle habits in the Malay/Muslim community.

The campaign will go on for two months, encouraging the community to eat healthier during Ramadan and Hari Raya Puasa.

According to The Straits Times, the percentage of Malays with diabetes had increased from 11.6% in 2017 to 14.4% in 2020.

This is why the theme of this campaign is: “Kita Dah Cukup Manis, Kurangkan OK?” (“We are sweet enough, Reduce it OK?”)

During the campaign, HPB will reach out to the community through mainstream and social media.

Here are some of the tips given in the campaign:

• Drink water instead of sugary drinks when breaking fast
• When having drinks outside, choose reduced-sugar home-made beverages such as “kopi kosong” (coffee with no sugar) or “teh kurang manis” (tea that is less sweet), though these should be consumed in moderation too
• Choose wholegrain foods when eating before the start of the fast, as it will fill you up for longer
• Eat more fruits and vegetables during the fasting period; they are rich in fibre
• When breaking fast, prepare meals that are well-balanced and nutritious – they should cover all the major food groups
• Dates, which are traditionally eaten to break a fast, should be consumed in moderation as they are high in sugar
• When shopping, choose products that carry the Healthier Choice symbol, as they are typically lower in saturated fat, sugar, and sodium
• Use herbs and spices for flavour instead of salt, sauces, and seasoning when cooking
• Use 20% brown rice for rice dishes
• Steam, grill, roast, or stir-fry instead of deep-frying

Of course, healthy eating and lifestyle habits don’t only apply to the Malay/Muslim community. If you’ve realised that you’re sweeter than your kopi, feel free to try out these tips for yourself!

Anti-Smoking Campaign

In addition, HPB will collaborate with its community partners to encourage people to quit smoking.

Ex-smokers will give virtual talks in partnership with Malay/Muslim organisations and mosques. These ex-smokers will share their experience and provide tips on how to kick the habit.

Smokers hoping to quit can sign up for the I Quit 28-Day Countdown programme here.

Feature Image: Syda Productions / Shutterstock.com