On 16 July, our dietitian from 365 Cancer Prevention Society conducted a Facebook Live talk in Mandarin on healthy food choices when dining out.
Check out the answers to some of the interesting questions raised during the Q&A session, including the healthiness of air-fried food, natto, and fishballs!
Is it better to use air fryer to replace barbecue?
- Air fryer is a better choice as it uses little to no oil to cook.
- When you’re out eating, choose air-fried protein as much as possible in place of barbecued or fried food.
Hawkers usually use palm oil to cook. Is palm oil healthy?
- Palm oil is not the best choice as it contains very high levels of saturated fat and can cause coronary problems.
- Due to cost, few hawkers use healthier options such as olive oil and canola oil.
- If you cannot find hawkers that use healthier oils, best option is to make changes to choices of cooking methods and consumption (e.g. eat fewer fried foods, don’t finish soups and sauces).
Is natto a good food choice?
- Natto contains probiotics, which are good for our digestive system.
- However, do take note that they are still prepared with salt to make them move flavourful, hence it should be consumed in moderation.
Why are fishballs not a healthy food choice?
- The fishballs sold by manufacturers are usually made with many additives.
- Not only do they contain a lot of salt, they may also contain other ingredients to enhance the flavour.
- You are recommended to consume fresh protein choices rather than fishballs, fish cakes etc.
