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Cost of food is not cheap but choices have to be made

In the report, “Healthy eating need not be expensive: Chee Hong Tat” (Oct 3), Senior Minister of State for Health Chee Hong Tat suggested that eating in moderation and healthier cooking methods are ways to approach healthy eating without the need to spend more. Facebook users argue that cost is still a big factor influencing food choices, while others point out that there are ways to manage costs better.
[http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/healthy-eating-need-not-be-expensi…]

In the debate over whether healthy eating is expensive, several Facebook users have argued that cost is still a big factor influencing food choices, while others point out that there are ways to manage costs better. Photo: Getty Images

In the debate over whether healthy eating is expensive, several Facebook users have argued that cost is still a big factor influencing food choices, while others point out that there are ways to manage costs better. Photo: Getty Images

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In the report, “Healthy eating need not be expensive: Chee Hong Tat” (Oct 3), Senior Minister of State for Health Chee Hong Tat suggested that eating in moderation and healthier cooking methods are ways to approach healthy eating without the need to spend more. Facebook users argue that cost is still a big factor influencing food choices, while others point out that there are ways to manage costs better.
[http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/healthy-eating-need-not-be-expensive-chee-hong-tat]

My family cooks (healthy meals) at home... but is that enough? It is having a balanced diet that is expensive, not just about cooking food healthily. We still eat more rice than protein, fibre and others. Why? Because of the increasing prices of fruits, meat, vegetables. To make a meal more filling, we have to eat rice so that we won’t feel hungry too soon. The HPB (Health Promotion Board) recommends two servings of fruits and vegetables a day. One trip to the market or supermarket, you are looking at at least S$0.50 per orange, S$1 per kiwi, lemon is also S$1. Any other variety of fruits is S$4 and above. Proteins? Now we are looking at S$15/kg for Indonesian pork, S$22/kg for mutton, S$18/kg for batang fish. Sure, we can eat chicken, kunning fish every day, beggars can’t be chosers. But to the low-income, that S$7.50 chicken, S$2.50 papaya may not even be within reach. SEAH KIM PING

Eating healthy doesn’t mean you buy organic food. Basically, it is the choices you make. How many people here even bother to cook at home? I remember my parents’ generation, no matter how phyically tired they were after work, they would still cook at home. Those who complain are the ones who just think everything is unfair because they didn’t get anything for free or at a lower cost. I can tell you this: If you don’t know how to manage your finance, no matter how much you earn, it is also not enough for you to spend. KLYTIN LIM

Less sugar, less oil, less salt. Save on buying these and spend less on junk food like carbonated, packet drinks and chips, etc. The savings from these can go into buying healthier food. All about choices... Many common citizens can afford to queue for iPhones and go for holidays, but no money to eat healthy. JACQUELINE LUM LIMIN

The island is already close to being a place where fast food is the cheapest meal of convenience, and that’s deeply disturbing. VICTOR WONG YAT KIT

*Comments were first posted on TODAY’s Facebook page and are edited for language and clarity.

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