SINGAPORE – More than 13,400 Malay/Muslim families will receive grocery packs containing items with whole grains and less sugar by end-March through a grocery distribution drive that encourages families to eat healthier.
This is part of an initiative, which started on Feb 22, to encourage families to adopt healthier eating habits during the fasting month of Ramadan and beyond. Hari Raya Aidilfitri falls on March 31.
Over 12,900 Malay/Muslim families, including lower-income households, had received the packs at more than 70 locations by March 23.
The distribution in 2025 is an increase of about 3,000 from 2024, said Minister of State for Health and Digital Development and Information Rahayu Mahzam, who distributed 200 packs at Gek Poh Ville Community Club on March 23.
Items in the packs in 2025 all carry the Healthier Choice symbol and the products include lower-sodium salt and whole-grain brown rice.
“Year on year, we are hoping to provide more meaningful programmes for the residents as we use the Ramadan period to give out goodies to residents,” said Ms Rahayu, who is an MP for Jurong GRC.
“I think it’s an opportunity for us to also educate and to share knowledge about how to keep a healthier lifestyle.”
Ms Rahayu was at the event with West Coast GRC MP Foo Mee Har and Dr Hamid Razak, who has been active in the Jurong Spring area, parts of which fall under the new West Coast-Jurong West GRC.
The initiative is part of a collaboration between 68 community partners under the Jaga Kesihatan, Jaga Ummah (Look After Your Health, Look After Your Community) network and the Health Promotion Board (HPB), aiming to encourage healthier eating habits.
These efforts support the adoption of healthy lifestyles, which is part of the fifth focus area on community health under M3 – a collaboration between self-help group Mendaki, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore and the People’s Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council.
Families can also take part in various activities aimed at healthy living organised by partners during such grocery distribution drives. For example, residents can attend a talk by HPB on how to prepare healthier and affordable meals at home.
HPB said its partners – including Caregivers Alliance Limited and Stroke Services Improvement – have engaged more than 3,100 families to share about the adoption of healthier lifestyles and the importance of health screening, among other things.
Families with young children aged three to 12 can also sign up for HPB’s health coaching programme, where a health coach will work with each family to review members’ current lifestyle habits, develop a plan and give tips.
Items in the packs in 2025 all carry the Healthier Choice symbol and examples of the products include lower-sodium salt and whole grain brown rice.ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
Ms Suhaidah Sabarudin, 45, who received one of the 200 packs of healthy groceries on March 23, said it gave her an opportunity to try products such as a healthier cooking oil, instead of normal cooking oil.
The homemaker said she has been trying to switch to healthier products as she has diabetes, among other conditions.
“Some of the things (in the pack)… are what I have been considering buying, but stepped back because of the pricing,” said Ms Suhaidah.
When Ms Rahayu was asked about her thoughts on the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee report released on March 11, she said: “I think the only thing I would say is that it is really business as usual for most of us.
“This is a good period to reach out to our residents, provide support and actually use it as an opportunity to check in on our residents.”
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