For Ms Kate Lim, a 46-year-old mother of three, ultra-processed and ready-to-eat foods are part of managing the morning rush and mealtimes without a helper. Her household staples include cereal, oats, granola, frozen bao (buns), dumplings and beef pies – items that keep well and can be prepared quickly.
Fresh ingredients, however, come with limits. “Fresh protein costs more and doesn’t keep for more than three days. I’m a one-pot-wonder mummy cook, so frozen items help me save time.”
Ms Lim added that her children, aged 10 to 17, also influence what ends up in the pantry.
“When my kids were younger, I was more obsessed with getting healthier options with no additives or preservatives, even if they cost more. Now that (my kids) are older, they sometimes ask for tastier, more seasoned foods, like frozen fast-food-style chicken wings that I can’t fully replicate.”
UPFs such as instant noodles, frozen nuggets, packaged snacks, ready-to-eat meals and sweetened beverages are popular across many demographic groups in Singapore, because they are affordable, convenient and shelf-stable.
