Urban farming: Residents living at the PPR Intan Baiduri in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, are growing vegetables and rearing chickens in their backyard. — Filepic/The Star
THERE ARE ways to maintain a healthy diet despite the rising food costs.
One way is to look into affordable yet nutritious options instead of something that is only filling, says Universiti Malaya’s social and preventive medicine expert Dr Ng Ai Kah.
Among the tips Ng lays out are purchasing seasonal fruits and making most of the available ingredients at home.
“Buy seasonal fruits and vegetables, as they tend to be cheaper and fresher. Consider buying fruits and vegetables in bulk to save money in the long run. Ensure proper storage for a longer shelf-life.
“Also, make the most of your ingredients to prevent food wastage,” she tells Sunday Star.
At the same time, keeping to a shopping list is also necessary to ensure prudent spending.
“Do make a list of what you need to buy. This shall prevent you from buying unnecessary food or beverages. Drink more water as it is the cheapest source of fluids.
“Compare prices at different stores and look for sales or discounts on healthy items.”
And as always, try to avoid purchasing the usual suspects in an unhealthy food pyramid.
“Limit spending on sugary beverages, snacks, and junk food. Instead, focus on nutrient-dense foods that provide more value for your money.”
At the same time, Ng proposes that it is also time for more Malaysians to grow their own food.
Her suggestions echo the Consumers’ Association of Penang’s (CAP) statement last year, when its natural farming coordinator NV Subbarow said it was high time for Malaysians to turn to urban gardening following the steep rise in vegetable prices. Subbarow had said 2024 would be challenging for consumers looking to purchase vegetables, due to the climate crisis and increase in fertiliser prices.
Ng says people should try to grow vegetables that are easy to tend to.
“It’s time to do some gardening. Some vegetables can be easily planted such as sawi, spinach, and lettuce.”
Other common vegetables that can be grown easily are mint, pegaga, kesum, and selom.
Concurring, Federation of Malaysian Consumers’ Associations (Fomca) vice-president Datuk Indrani Thuraisingham shares that she plants vegetables like lady’s fingers and chillies in her urban garden.
“At the very least, that can help me reduce the cost incurred for vegetables in my household.”
She also encourages community urban gardening, which can help boost food availability.
“If a community can grow vegetables, they are helping to grow healthy food. So for me, it’s in the promoting and encouraging of more homegrown vegetable gardening.”
Indrani also reiterates that buying seasonal produce can immensely help households keep to their budget.
She suggests that the relevant ministries inform consumers about surpluses so that people would know when to get the best value for their money when shopping for groceries.
“We need to educate consumers [on seeking the best value for their grocery purchase]. For example, seasonal vegetables can be so cheap.”
A United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) longitudinal study on Covid-19’s impact on low-income households found nearly 40% of all heads of households, including female-headed homes, reported reducing non-food items to make way for food purchases.
“This proportion is even higher among households led by persons with disabilities, at 50%. Additionally, approximately one out of three households have had to tap into their limited savings, likely due to a lack of substantial government assistance compared with the initial pandemic phase,” it states.
