Health Promotion Board Rolls Out Singapore's First Healthier Coffeeshop In Partnership With Bukit Batok East Constituency

Singapore, 17 February 2012: Busy Singaporeans who have little choice but to 'dabao'frequently from their nearby coffeeshops may soon do so with a clearer conscience, as the Health Promotion Board (HPB) launches the Healthier Coffeeshop initiative.

2. In partnership with Bukit Batok East Constituency, HPB has transformed Food King Coffee House at Block 233, Bukit Batok East Avenue 5, into Singapore's first Healthier Coffeeshop.

3. All eight food and beverage stalls are committed to serving healthier choices using more wholesome ingredients such as brown rice, wholegrain noodles and healthier oil, which is lower in saturated fat. The calorie count of these dishes is also displayed at the stalls' menu boards.

4. For example, the chicken rice here is served with brown rice and skinless chicken (500 calories), and the Muslim dishes are cooked using healthier oil and less salt, such as the Mee Rebus (500 calories). The Botak Jones outlet also offers at least two dishes below 500 calories – the tuna salad and Caesar salad with grilled salmon.

5. “I am very pleased to work with HPB in rolling out Singapore's first Healthier Coffeeshop at Bukit Batok East. Even though many of us know home-cooked food is usually healthier, we may be too busy to cook and buy food regularly for ourselves and families from neighbourhood coffeeshops, which traditionally sell less healthy fare. By working with coffeeshops to offer healthier options, we help those among us, who don't have time to cook, to benefit from healthy and nutritious meals,” said Grassroots Adviser Madam Halimah Yacob, who is also Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports, and MP for Jurong GRC.

6. According to the 2010 National Health Survey, obesity rates are on the rise, with one in 10 Singaporeans classified as obese. This rise has been attributed partly to more people eating out and, as a result, consuming food that is generally less healthy. In fact, the proportion of Singaporeans who eat out about four times a week at coffeeshops, hawker centres and food courts has increased from 49 per cent in 2004 to 60 per cent in 2010.

7. HPB's 2010 National Nutrition Survey also showed that seven in 10 Singaporeans exceed their recommended calories requirements. Among them, 15 per cent consume at least twice the recommended allowance.

8. An extension of HPB's Healthier Hawker Programme, the Healthier Coffeeshop initiative shares the same objective, which is to take the battle against the bulge to neighbourhood eating places, where many Singaporeans patronise regularly due to their affordability and convenient locations.

9. “To transform an ordinary coffeeshop into a Healthier Coffeeshop, HPB and its Health Ambassadors at Bukit Batok East have to first explain to stallholders that this actually makes good business sense. We believe more and more Singaporeans will choose to eat healthily, if they are given the option to do so. HPB also helped to link the coffeeshop with suppliers of healthy ingredients to ensure that food prices remain the same for consumers, and advised the cooks on how they may reduce the fat and salt content of their dishes without compromising on taste. The coffeeshop owner is so convinced of the viability of this business model that he is currently working with HPB to convert all nine of his coffeeshops into Healthier Coffeeshops. In the months ahead, HPB will also be working with popular food chain Botak Jones to push a healthy menu at their 13 outlets island-wide,” said Mr Ang Hak Seng, Chief Executive Officer, HPB.

10. The Healthier Coffeeshop initiative between HPB and Bukit Batok East grassroots aims to make healthy lifestyle choices accessible and affordable for residents. Together with HPB's Health Ambassadors, the Bukit Batok East Community Club (CC) has set up a Healthy Lifestyle Corner, where residents may learn health tips and enjoy healthy activities.

11. HPB's Health Ambassadors will be on-site at the CC to share with fellow residents about the healthier options available at the newly-launched Healthier Coffeeshop. These Health Ambassadors will also conduct simple BMI and blood pressure tests, share health tips and information as well as encourage residents to get involved regularly in the various nutrition talks, healthy cooking demonstrations and other healthy physical activities at the CC.

Issued by Health Promotion Board