S’poreans want to eat healthily, but less than 1 in 4 people know what constitutes a balanced meal

SINGAPORE – Singaporeans are largely aware of the importance of eating healthily, but most here do not understand what constitutes a balanced meal.

Additionally, a new study has found that some parents are willing to sacrifice nutrition in favor of the taste and convenience of their children’s meals so that their children eat enough and mealtimes go smoothly.

These findings were included in a nationwide survey of 1,000 respondents aged 18 to 60 conducted by FairPrice Group (FPG) in April 2024, which will inform several social initiatives implemented by FPG.

The study, which included an online survey and home visits to a smaller group of respondents, found that more than 4 in 5 respondents agreed that a healthy meal is one that is balanced. A similar percentage of surveyed parents said that their greatest concern was providing their children with a proper diet.

However, only 23 percent of respondents were able to identify that a balanced meal requires fruits and vegetables, protein and carbohydrates, FPG said, releasing the results of the NielsenIQ survey on Oct. 3.

About 7 in 10 parents surveyed said taste was crucial to a good meal, and their biggest concern was getting their children not to be fussy and eat enough.

Respondents said that giving children food they like – such as nuggets, sausages and fries – will help them finish the meal without any problems. They found that four out of 10 meals prepared by parents during the week included processed foods, regardless of income level.

The findings highlight the level of disagreement over what constitutes a balanced diet – parents want nutrition and children want an element of taste, said FairPrice Group chief executive Vipul Chawla.

“Sometimes there is a belief that these two things cannot equal… What this tells us is that there are some fundamental gaps in the understanding (of nutrition),” he said.

To address this tension between nutrition and taste, especially for families in need, FPG launched what it called the largest food donation drive in Singapore on October 3. The campaign will last until November 17. The FairPrice Foundation will match public donations of up to $1 million to provide 10 charity partners with nutritious groceries and meals.

The partner organizations, which include Beyond Social Services, The Food Bank Singapore, Jamiyah Singapore and Touch Community Services, will use the donations collected to purchase healthier food products such as fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen chicken and brown rice.

The FPG study found that beneficiaries of the food donation programs studied preferred protein, staples, fruits and vegetables over processed canned foods.

It also found that Singaporeans have fewer misconceptions about the nutritional value of fresh-frozen food – food frozen immediately after harvest – and more than half of parents agree it is a good source of nutrients.