Many opt for cooler eating habits in stifling heat

PETALING JAYA: Even dietary habits have to be changed in these hot, stifling days.

Businessman Haw Won Kee, 54, has been buying at least three coconuts a day for his family of five since the hot weather began.

He said he had been “forcing” his wife and children to drink coconut water every day to prevent them from getting heatstroke.

“Coconuts are great for cooling down the body during this heat,” he said, adding that he bought regular coconuts instead of processed ones to save cost.

Dave Nathan, a 34-year-old company executive, said he had been reluctantly giving up his favourite Malaysian food for the time being as they were all heaty.

He said he had to set aside nasi lemak, rojak and satay, and choose “safer” options for the sake of his health.

“I’m already heaty outside, I don’t want to be heaty inside as well,” the foodie said.

A company trainee, who only wished to be known as Priscilla, said the way to survive the night was simply to strip down to her birthday suit.

Priscilla, who lives in a rented room in Kuala Lumpur, said that she had a hard time going to sleep at night despite having the fan at its highest setting.

“It’s so hot that I wake up sweating from head to toe and then I just fall asleep still sitting,” she said.

Undergraduate Siti Nurhazierah Mohamed Haris, 20, said she had been cleaning her fan regularly for better ventilation.

“I also shut the door and all the windows to prevent the hot air from coming in.

“And I turn off all the lights to prevent the heat from getting worse.”