New healthy recipes launched in war against diabetes, women urged to help in the fight

WIN Against Diabetes’, organised by the PA Women’s Integration Network (WIN) Council and Women’s Executive Committees (WEC), in support of the War on Diabetes. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

SINGAPORE - Women are being roped in to join the national fight against diabetes, with the launch of a collection of healthy recipes at Our Tampines Hub on Sunday (April 2).

Titled Healthy Kitchen, Healthy Women, it is a postcard-sized pack comprising 50 recipes of different cuisines with the goal to make it easier for women and their families to eat and live healthily.

The recipes are all contributed by members of the People's Association Women's Executive Committees, as well as grassroot advisors. A mixed vegetable dish, for example, was a recipe by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu.

Senior Minister of State for Health Dr Amy Khor contributed a recipe for potato patties while Marine Parade GRC MP Dr Fatimah Lateef provided a recipe for kaseri, an Indian dessert.

The Women's Executive Committees worked with the Health Promotion Board to ensure that each dish contained less than 500 calories.

Cooking classes will be held at various community clubs from April until December this year.

About 1,000 residents turned up for the Women's Health Carnival, where the recipes were launched by PA. The carnival is said to be the first of its kind organised by PA's Women's Integration Network Council and Women's Executive Committees.

Dr Khor, who is also adviser to the Women's Integration Network Council, said women play a key role in taking care of their families and have significant influence over the diet and lifestyle of other family members.

"As an individual, it might be difficult to take the first step, so the community can come in to provide the platforms to help individuals make that change. I am happy that the Women's Executive Committees are taking the lead to advocate healthy living and eating," said Dr Khor.

There are some 400,000 diabetic Singaporeans today, and it is estimated that one out of every three Singaporeans will likely develop the disease in their lifetimes.

With the potential for as many as a million diabetics by 2050 if nothing is done, the Ministry of Health declared a war against the disease in 2015, said Dr Khor

She added: "I urge women to be role models and set good examples in leading a healthy lifestyle, which will in turn inspire your family members and friends to do likewise."

This means eating healthily, exercising regularly and going for appropriate and regular health screening for early detection and treatment, she said.

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