The world may still not be open for travelling but an increasing number of healthy and environmentally responsible nutritional options are available in Singapore.
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is to be more mindful. And that extends to eating habits and making better food choices too. From healthy alternative cooking methods such as air frying, pressure cooking and slow cooking; to carbon-free grocery deliveries and a burgeoning amount of plant-based options, the emphasis on eating healthy while being environmentally responsible has never been greater.
A healthy lifestyle is not an all or nothing lifestyle. Rather, it should ideally be a continuum balancing healthy eating coupled with occasional indulgences. Despite the pandemic’s disruption of supply chains last year, we’re seeing an increasing amount of healthy options coming to us and being available almost all year round – think avocadoes, red kiwis, blueberries, organic produce, premium meats and fish, etc, all thanks to the mushrooming number of niche fine food grocers that call Singapore home.
And there has also been an increased focus on Singapore’s 30 by 30 plan to be nutritionally more secure and independent, with supermarkets bringing in more locally grown produce such as locally farmed eggs, vegetables and fish. Naturally, the lower the travel time for farm-to-plate, the higher the freshness and nutrition content of food.
In addition to all our niche and fine food grocers doing their bit in sourcing ethical farmers and producers for good quality produce, health-minded eco warriors can also stock up with the same high-quality and sustainable produce available in top restaurants. The Grand Marketplace by Grand Hyatt Singapore, the hotel’s one-stop online grocery shop, provides access to consumers for fresh and sustainably sourced premium ingredients from around the world that is served at the hotel’s restaurants too. Driven by sustainability, the culinary team purchases from small-scale businesses (located as close to Singapore as possible) that practise ethical and sustainable farming, thus reducing the carbon footprint generated from packaging and transport from distant regions. Organic vegetables from Malaysian farm, Weeds and More; freerange lamb from Roaring Forties in Australia; certifiedsustainable barramundi fish from local fish farm, Kühlbarra, and more, the Grand Hyatt Singapore’s culinary team purchases these ingredients in bulk to extend trade prices to consumers via The Grand Marketplace.
A few months ago, the antioxidant-heavy Zespri Red Kiwifruit fresh from New Zealand, the latest variant to come through Zespri’s world-leading kiwifruit breeding programme, was available locally too. The striking red colour of the seasonal healthy, low GI value fruit stemmed from anthocyanin, a unique and naturally occurring pigment within the kiwi, which provided anti-inflammatory and anti-viral benefits. Sounds good to me.
Likewise, shiro-ukon or Japanese white turmeric from Kyushu, is believed to be the magical ingredient behind Turmeron Joint, a natural painkiller for those suffering from osteoarthritis and requiring joint care. Along with curcuma longa, this all-natural, vegan, non-GMO and gluten-free supplement is bursting with labdane-type diterpene. With levels that are typically 100 times higher than those found in common yellow turmeric, the labdanes assist the body to rebuild worn-out and overused joint components in the knees, hips and fingers, without any of the common side effects found in regular anti-inflammatory medication.
The wide variety of options we have at our fingertips is simultaneously impressive and mind-boggling, but the choices for healthier eating are certainly available and growing. Choose well.