How do we keep Malaysian food healthy without losing the local flavour?

Question

Malaysia, hands-down, has some of the best food in the world, available 24-7. But however delicious and tempting the spread, Malaysian food can be calorie-laden, which makes it difficult for the average Malaysian, especially when we're faced with great food at every turn.
With more Malaysians becoming more health and figure conscious, does it mean we're stuck making a choice between good food or good health?
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Answer 1

The most sensible thing is to reduce portion of what you eat - end of the day, its the daily calorie intake that counts. Everyhting is ok but in moderation laa - for example, once in a while, dont finish all the rice in the nasi lemak, ask for kurang manis or kurang minyak. Most ppl are happy to accomodate requsts like this.

One major thing Malaysians need to do is stop eating such rich oily fried food on daily basis - eg nasi lemak and roti canai for breakfast, nasi and curry for lunch AND dinner.

And start educating yourself - know how much fat/calories in in what you eat and what you daily calorie intake should be, that'll make HUGe difference.

Lastly - get off your lazy behind and start moving around!

Answer 2

IMHO, there's no way if we want to eat malaysian food outside (mamak stalls and other places) but still want to maintain out waistline.

The key is - eat in moderation. Not everyday, but maybe a weekly even.

Other time, if we eat at home, just eat all those healthy food such as light calorie recipe - sandwich, salad and other low-cal food.

If we are cooking malaysian food at home, we can always alter the recipe and the ingredients so the food would be a little bit healthy (by lowering the calorie or the cholesterol level in the food). Some of the way to do this :

1. switch the coconut milk to low-fat milk. (reduce the amount of milk)

2. forgo the MSG! it's bad for you!

3. reduce salt.

4. reduce sugar (if applicable)

5. for vegetable dishes - don't overcook it, shorten the cook time so more vitamins is not lost.. (which is normally does due to overcook.)

Answer 3

Food that tastes good. it seems, tend to be bad for health. However, it is wrong to make a general statement that we have to choose between good food and good health.

The ways to prepare and the ingredients of these food have been handed down through the generations, with few changes. Why then are these food not labelled as bad for health a couple of generations ago?

The sad fact is that livestyles have changed and we are a lot less active than before (let us say, during our grandfathers' time). When before the extra calories would have been burnt off, they are now converted and stored as fat in our bodies today.

Coming back to the topic, substitution of ingredients could lessen the bad effects. As examples, using vegetable oil instead of animal oil and using natural sweetener instead of processed sugar.

However, if people would exercise more and lead a more active lifestyle, there is no need to make a choice between good food and good health. People can enjoy Malaysia's delicious food the way it is now and yet be healthy.

Answer 4

" Malaysia, hands-down, has some of the best food in the world, available 24-7" . I just loved your statement and i totally agreed with you! Malaysian food is the best in the world, so much varieties. But no matter how tempting it is, always have self - control and practice MODERATION. Beside that..Health Authority should monitor the food premises regularly especially those coffee shop which tend to practice unhygienic way of handling food. This is my main concerned. Poor hygiene. When it comes to Festive Season, its alright to eat more but just dont waste food...Remember those in other part of the world that is dying from hunger...Last but not least i would not compromise my taste bud with so call calorie, if you think you eat too much calorie - laden food, then in the next few days eat less. Balance your eating habits and practice Moderation. Those who are more educated in food wise, take the oppurtunity to translate to those less educated or less conscious about food. Then the choice is theirs. It's disheartening that more and more Malaysian are suffering from lifestyle's diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes..the major cause of this disease is poor eating habits. Eat to live and LIVE HEALTHY.

Answer 5

How To Make Malaysian Food

Answer 6

It won't be a 'Malaysian' food if we leave out all those calorie packed ingredients from it.. unless some dude can ever created something that 'everything is low in fat'...but it will always be a chemical product..then, maybe..but, you have to face another problem.....So, it is like playing see-saw..you cannot have good Malaysian Food without the heavy calorie laden ingredients. The only things you can do is...control the consumption..aye...you have a lot of time to eat!!

Answer 7

Anything in excess is not good, and that include food. Local food must not lose it's flavour. It's unique to the country. Malaysians, and everybody all over the world for that matter, only need to discipline themselves when it comes to eating. No binge eating, not the same food all the time, and eat with moderation. Don't pig out at all....So it is not the matter with the food but the eater.

Answer 8

we all know that malaysians food contains. Some have the sweetness flavour, lots of fat and the food become high calories. We still can enjoy eating and making the delicious food, after we know how to control it and balance the flavour. Try changing some of the contains flavour, example :- santan to evaporated milk... cooking oil use the olive oil. This kind of things does not make the taste of food become badly... the true the food become much delicious. This is the true story in my family. Sense my mom had a high urine asid in her body, our cooking life stail have been change. Until now, my mom and us still can eat kari, choclate cake, bubur manis... and enjoy eating other delicious food... we just cook a good food guide with the contains of flavour and balance it...
Once we know how to make a good food; We know we in the safety healty good health.

Answer 9

I will not change anything for the Malaysian cuisine and thats what it makes Malaysia a multi and truly Asia. The only thing that I will change is the hygiene standard that Malaysia has and epecially in the coffeshops.
You should get every food operator to install a grease trapper rather than washing it down on the drain which causes cockraches and rats colony.
You may try to eradicate fast food but the Malaysia cuisine that compronise Malay, Indian, Thai, Portuguese and the Chinese should remain unchange.

Answer 10

Malaysian food are not really healthier than European food per se. Most Malaysian food contain coconut milk, i.e., rendang, kari mee, nasi lemak, to name just a few. Roti canai have high level of fat in it. Aside, I find lots of European food a bit bland, or is it only British food? Next, Malaysians love to eat, where in the world can you get food at all hours of the day? Malaysia. It's always food galore here in Malaysia. Not only the women sits and watch the soap,men too. I don't have the time to watch soap or AF. But I sit a lot in front of my PC, that's why I got fat deposit in my belly. LOL.