SINGAPORE, OCT 4 – A study found that Singaporeans largely recognize the importance of a healthy diet, but most do not understand what a balanced diet is.
The study also found that some parents are willing to exchange delicious meals that are easy to prepare for the children so that the children have enough to eat and the mealtime goes smoothly and does not become troublesome.
These are among the findings in a national survey of 1,000 respondents aged 18 to 60 years conducted by FairPrice Group (FPG) in April.
The study, which involved online surveys as well as visits to respondents’ homes, found that more than four out of five agreed that a healthy diet is a balanced diet.
The same number also said that making sure their children maintain a nutritious diet is their biggest concern.
However, only 23 percent of respondents said that a balanced diet requires fruits and vegetables, protein and carbohydrates, said FPG when announcing the findings of a study conducted by NielsenIQ yesterday.
Seven out of 10 parents say the taste of food is a determining factor in making good meals so that children are not picky and eating enough is their priority.
Therefore, respondents said that giving children foods they like such as nuggets, sausages and fries will help them finish their meals easily.
Four in 10 meals parents prepare in a week have processed or canned food, regardless of household income level, the study found.
The findings show that there is confusion in balanced eating between parents who want a complete nutritious diet or children who want to taste good, said FPG group chief executive Vipul Chawla.
“Sometimes the belief is that the two cannot match. It tells us that there are some fundamental gaps in understanding about nutrition,” he said.
To address the confusion between healthy eating and such taste, especially for families in need, FPG launched what it described as Singapore’s biggest food donation campaign yesterday.
The campaign will see the FairPrice Foundation match every ringgit received through public donations up to a total of $1 million to provide 10 charity partners with groceries and nutritious food.
The organization works with several partners to purchase healthier food items such as fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen chicken and brown rice.
The FPG study also found that food donation program recipients surveyed preferred protein, staple foods, fruits and vegetables over processed canned foods.
This shows that Singaporeans are aware of the nutritional value of fresh frozen foods – which are chilled as soon as they are harvested – as a good source of nutrition.
Food from the Heart chief executive Robin Lee noted that food donations are usually limited to dry pantry staples such as rice and noodles, instant drinks, biscuits and canned food as these have a longer shelf life.
He welcomed the FPG campaign to prioritize nutritious eating. “We have reached a point where we really need to focus on improving the nutrition of food,” said Mr Lee.
To increase nutrition awareness from a younger age, FPG also launched a special program for pre-school children last month, said Mr Chawla.
The program teaches children about skills such as reading nutrition labels and making wise choices when buying kitchen items at FairPrice supermarkets. – ANN/The Straits Times
