{"id":40110,"date":"2019-09-20T10:30:03","date_gmt":"2019-09-20T02:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imoney.my\/articles\/?p=40110"},"modified":"2021-08-27T18:18:16","modified_gmt":"2021-08-27T10:18:16","slug":"save-money-eat-healthy-malaysia-food","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imoney.my\/articles\/save-money-eat-healthy-malaysia-food","title":{"rendered":"How Much Can You Save By Eating Healthy In Malaysia?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/span>“Good health is not something we can buy. However, it can be an extremely valuable savings account.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n
– Anne Wilson Schaef, Psychotherapist<\/em><\/h5>\n

<\/div><\/div>
\nThere are mainly two reasons why Malaysians are giving a pass to healthy choices when it comes to food.<\/p>\n

Rising cost of living and lack of time.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rising costs includes costlier food especially in KL where food tend to be notoriously overpriced. This is more so if you are opting for healthy food. To illustrate:
\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Healthy options<\/center><\/strong><\/th>
Fast food\/ Unhealthy options<\/center><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Avocado Toast RM20<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a><\/center><\/td>
McChicken RM8.10<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Smoothie Bowl RM24<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a><\/center><\/td>
Curry Mee RM7<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Caeser salad RM18<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a><\/center><\/td>
Nasi Lemak RM6<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Natural, unsweetened peanut butter
\nRM20<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a><\/center><\/td>
Margerine RM5<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Muesli Bar (6 Piece) RM15<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a><\/center><\/td>
Chicken Satay (6 stick) RM6<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n

Evidently, the budget-conscious will reach for the cheaper and often, unhealthy food. While Malaysian delicacies are undoubtedly delicious, they can wreak havoc to your health if eaten daily. An average plate of Nasi Lemak has 400 calories<\/a> and 58g of carbs while a serving of avocado on toast has 186 calories and 24g of carbs.<\/p>\n

Work-life imbalance<\/a>, where more Malaysians are spending more hours at work (often in an office chair) results in a sedentary lifestyle.<\/p>\n

According to the Malaysia\u2019s Healthiest Workplace by AIA Vitality 2018 survey<\/a>, 91.7% do not eat a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables and whole grains<\/a> and 16.6% of the employees surveyed are obese. Work stress and binge eating are said to have contributed to the poor health of Malaysians.<\/p>\n

<\/span>It\u2019s time to make a change!<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Eating healthy does not have to be expensive.<\/p>\n

We have done the research, put most of the tips and tricks below into practise, gained from them and now, we would like to share it with you. LET\u2019S GO!<\/p>\n

<\/span>Start planning your meals<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

For working adults, weekly planning saves time and money since work days often eat into the evening and cooking an elaborate meal 5am in the morning is not an alluring option. Planning includes the steps below:<\/p>\n