The 10 Healthiest & Unhealthiest Dishes to Order at Hawker Centres

Eat & Avoid: How to eat healthy at hawker centres

ashley

20 Oct 2017

1/10
#1 DO: Prawn noodle soup (574g)
294 calories, 19g protein, 2g fat, 49g carbohydrates and 2422mg sodium.

With it's low cholesterol, fat and saturated fat levels, prawn noodle soup is an ideal lunch meal that doesn't pile on the pounds. However, it's reasonably high sodium level is a cause of concern. As such, it would be wise to ditch the soup and add more vegetables like bean sprouts.
2/10
#2 DO: Mee Soto (540g)
434 calories, 19g protein, 13g fat, 60g carbohydrates and 165mg sodium.

With it's high amount of protein and low levels of sodium, Mee Soto makes an excellent healthy alternative to the usual oily and salt-laden foods common in Hawker food fare.
3/10
#3 DO:Wonton Noodles
290 calories, 19g protein, 5g fat, 41g carbohydrates and 1804mg sodium.

Wonton noodles is an excellent post-workout meal as it has a lowe cholesterol, fat and overall calories. Of course, you can kick up your healthy meal game a notch by requesting for more greens and reducing your sodium and sugar intake.
4/10
#4 DO: Popiah (188g)
188 calories, 4g protein, 11g fat, 14g carbohydrates and 676mg sodium.

These bite-sized snacks are great energy boosters that don't add inches to your waistline. Containing a plethora of vegetables like bean sprouts, lettuce leaves, carrots and garlic, popiah would undeniably make a wonderful addition to anyone's meal!
5/10
#5 DO: Dosa (one serving)
120 calories, 2g protein, 3g fat, 17g carbohydrates and 793mg sodium.

Traditionally served with a vegetable-based dip and chutney, Dosa is a fermented crepe made from rice flour and ground lentils. With it's low calories, sodium and fat, Dosa is one great Hawker meal that you don't have to skimp on!
6/10
#1 DON’T: Fried carrot cake (295g)
493 calories, 2g protein, 35g fat, 42g carbohydrates and 1289mg sodium.

Carrot cake is probably the very antithesis of healthy eating. Deep fried in oil and smothered with salt, this calorie-dense dish is definitely not one to consume daily.
7/10
#2 DON’T: Chicken Rice (382g)
607 calories, 25.7g protein, 23g fat, 76g carbohydrates and 1287mg sodium

Swimming in fat and salt, chicken rice contains a whopping 76g of carbohydrates, almost half of the daily recommended carbohydrate intake! If you aren't willing to give up your beloved chicken rice, do opt for steamed rice and skinless chicken instead.
8/10
#3 DON’T: Satay and sauce (one serving)
489 calories, 36.5g protein, 29.3g fat, 24.7 carbohydrates and 1011mg sodium

Who could possibly resist the juicy and tender meat of Satay, followed by a drizzle of savoury peanut sauce? Well, once you've realised the nutritional value of these hawker favourites, you won't be so inclined to eat them. Packing an immense amount of calories and fat, satay is one dish you should stay away from.
9/10
#4 DON’T: Nasi Lemak (306g)
657 calories, 10g protein, 13g fat, 58g carbohydrates and 1077mg sodium.

Fluffy, fragrant coconut rice and tender meat- it's indeed a shame that such a delicious dish doesn't fare well on the health meter. With it's sheer amount of carbohydrates and calories, nasi lemak isn't a dish one should consume on a regular basis. However, if you really need a nasi lemak fix, try making it at home using less coconut milk, sugar and salt.
10/10
#5 DON’T: Char kway teow (384g)
744 calories, 23g protein, 38g fat, 76g carbohydrates and 1459mg sodium.

Deep fried in a sizzling wok, char kway teow contains a whopping 744 calories, way too much for a single meal. The use of sweet sauce, highly processed meats and lard undoubtedly contribute to it's high cholesterol, fat and calorie levels.

Here’s the lowdown on the healthiest and unhealthiest hawker grub!

From steaming plates of roasted chicken rice to succulent skewers of satay, never let it be said that the Singapore food scene is dull. Renowned for it’s bustling and vibrant culinary landscape, it’s really no surprise for our ultimate foodie status in the region.

Zeroing in on hawker centres in particular, the stellar food and rock-bottom prices make them a godsend to any Singaporean! However, hawker food isn’t exactly the most nutritious food to consume. Infamous for their greasy and salt-laden dishes, hawker centres are a weight watcher’s nightmare.

If you consider yourself calorie-conscious, then it would be in your best interests to avoid hawker centres as much as possible. Alas, who could possibly live without our traditionally Singaporean food fare? As such, we’ve compiled a detailed guide on the do’s and don’ts of hawker food so that you won’t have to completely kick them to the curb.

Allow us to help you navigate the hawker paradise scene without breaking your diet by ditching and/or switching certain foods. Head up to the gallery above to find out more.

Ashley Anand

Photo: Getty Images

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