Indulge in a Wholegrain Twist with Local and International Delights

Amidst the deliciously indulgent offerings available in Singapore, one might think that eating healthier meals can be a difficult task, but really, it’s not difficult at all!

If you have been indulging during the recent Chinese New Year festivities, now is the time to kickstart your eating journey towards better health. You might be surprised to find that healthier wholegrain dishes can actually be available at many places near you, affordable and best of all, tasty too!

QQ Rice

This is the perfect place to grab a ready-made rice ball for a quick meal. Pick from the five different types of rice available – purple rice, brown rice, wheat five, red rice and mixed grain. I usually have purple rice because this variety of rice is higher in zinc and iron compared to regular white rice and has a delicious nutty flavour to it too! To spice things up a little, I will pair my purple rice with spicy shrimp, fried egg, fish chip, braised peanuts and Japanese cucumber. If you need a quick, delicious, healthier lunch or dinner, this is the place to go.

Prata Wala

You’re probably familiar with Nasi Biryani and usually, a biryani is cooked with basmati white rice. Much to our surprise and to the delight of our palates, Prata Wala offers Wholegrain Biryani and is also the first Indian restaurant in Singapore to launch Wholegrain Prata and Wholegrain Naan as part of the Healthier Dining Programme, an initiative by the Health Promotion Board (HPB).

To prepare Prata Wala’s Wholegrain Biryani, brown rice and purple rice are added to the basmati rice mixture. Not only do the healthier wholegrain versions look good, they taste great too because the flavourful wholegrain rice not only retain the flavours that Prata Wala is so famous for, they even add a nutty dimension to the complex and delicious flavours. For just an additional $0.20, you can enjoy healthier and tasty Wholegrain Biryani too!

For us, we loved the Curry Chicken Wholegrain Biryani. The rice is cooked till fragrant and served with a tender whole curry chicken leg and pickled cucumber on the side. We really enjoyed the wholegrain options because they are even more fragrant and wholesome in flavour! Prata Wala is available in Jurong Point #01-71/72/73/74 JP2, nex #02-17, Tampines Mall #B1-K21 and Northpoint #B1-57.

Seng Heng Hainanese Chicken Rice

After Mr. Low, the stall owner, learnt the ropes from a chicken rice master in 1997, he went from selling kway chap to selling chicken rice. Mr. Low makes everything in the stall himself, from the sauces to the fried shallots. “These are mixed with wholegrain rice,” Mr. Low explained as he lifted the lid of the rice cooker. The combination of white and brown rice is cooked in a chicken stock to perfection. The rice is full of flavour and is not as oily as the usual Hainanese chicken rice. The tender, steamed chicken comes dressed in a special secret concoction, and we enjoyed the tangy chilli sauce and dark soy sauce, that went perfectly with the fragrant rice.

Best of all, each plate goes for just $2.50. Where else can you find such a good deal in Singapore?

The Spinach Soup

Spinach soup seems to be the latest trend to hit the hawker centre scene these days. The version served at this stall uses a broth made from long hours of brewing chicken bones for a soup base that is hearty, nourishing and full-bodied. This stall serves only 2 types of spinach soup, each with a different assortment of ingredients – Spinach Seafood Soup and Spinach Century & Salted Egg Soup.

The broth is mild and clear, but is a great base that complements the characteristic sweetness of spinach. This is the perfect choice for those looking for something comforting and rejuvenating after a long and warm day. Plus, you can get your recommended intake of vegetables too! You can choose to top up a mere $1 for brown rice. Come on! Let’s relish our spinach to become as healthy and strong as Popeye, aye?

Wheat Baumkuchen

For Japanese-inspired, nutritious, and value-for-money meals on the go, head on over to WHEAT Baumkuchen. The soba noodle, brown rice, and salad sets are very popular among working executives. The red rice used is specially flown in from Bhutan, and red rice, which is rich in nutrients, pairs very well with their salmon and teriyaki chicken dishes.

For a taste of happiness from Asia’s happiest country, Bhutan, try the Bull Run Rice which features grilled teriyaki chicken paired with salad and red rice that is packed with higher amounts of fibre, iron and zinc for a healthier you.

If you are trying to increase your vegetable intake, a delicious option is the Chicken Cauliflower Bowl that is served with a base of broccoli & cauliflower, all topped off with grilled chicken, fresh avocado and a sous-vide egg.

Yong Kee

As I walked towards Yong Kee, I thought it was going to be another chap chye png stall. But I was wrong. This small hawker stall serves Malay, Indian and Chinese food without pork and beef. On some days, there is also nasi briyani or turmeric rice. Here at Yong Lee, you can enjoy a plate of brown rice which goes well with a variety of dishes. The menu is different everyday, so you won’t get bored dining here!

Come lunchtime, the stall receives constant long queues and their dishes get sold out quickly. We decided to pair the healthier brown rice with a portion of some of our favourite dishes. We found ourselves spoilt for choice with so many delicious options such as rendang mutton, sambal chicken and assam fish. Don’t forget to fill half of your plate with vegetables too! The black fungus and curry vegetables are a hit here.

That’s all folks! Keep a lookout for the “Wholegrains Options available here” identifier, the next time you dine out and give the wholegrain options a go because it’s true, healthier food can really be tasty too! For a list of eateries on-board the Healthier Dining Programme, do visit www.hpb.gov.sg/hdp

This post is brought to you by the Health Promotion Board.