“A horrible culinary experience” was what some Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) students described the new meals under airline caterer SATS. One Secondary 2 student Mothership spoke to lamented on the taste and quality of the food, and called for improvements to the meals, or even a removal of the meal system. This comes after pictures of the bento meals were circulated online, drawing comparisons to “cookhouse” meals served in the army. “We do not like the system and its food”, the student plainly told Mothership. He shared that he finds the rice “dry for some dishes, soggy for others”. He also felt that the vegetables had minimal seasoning, while the meatless chicken “does not taste good”. The student shared that the catered meals currently cost around the same as those from the live stalls, but have smaller portions. There is also an option for a premium meal, which costs S$4.80. However, the student noted that these “pale in comparison to the other canteen stalls’ meals still, while being more expensive”. “The dishes vary in cuisine, but considering the price, are at best mediocre and at worst downright terrible.” Under the new system, students are able to opt in for the catered meals by purchasing them through an app. This is meant to reduce the long queues for food at the live stalls and cut queue time to about three minutes instead, The Straits Times reported in October 2025. However, the student highlighted that many others have tried the bento meals and found them not to their liking. As a result, the live stalls have instead seen increased traffic, and queues have become longer. Before, there were nine stalls in the canteen. Now, only four remain — a yong tau foo, Western food, Asian noodles, and drinks stall. Many students have also resorted to buying food from the vending machines. He added that the orders for the bento meals are only around a third of the high school cohort, and students have been encouraged to buy meals from SATS or the vending machines to reduce queues at the live stalls. “I don’t expect champagne brut rosé or a Michelin-grade charcuterie board, but the SATS food is honestly just not it.” A HCI spokesperson previously said in a Jan. 7 statement that they were aware of the concerns raised by their new canteen model. The SATS meals ensure students continued access to “balanced, reasonably priced meals” that meet “nutritional needs and dietary preferences” in the face of “sector-wide manpower constraints affecting school canteen operations”. HCI has been closely monitoring their canteen operations, including “food quality, portion sizes and students’ daily dining experience”. HCI said that a photograph circulating online “does not accurately reflect the typical food offerings or portion standards under this arrangement”. The school also shared in a Facebook post that parents had visited the canteen to sample the food options under this new system and share any feedback directly. According to HCI, feedback indicated that portions were “sufficient”, food was served warm, and prices were reasonable. The school is also in the process of establishing a canteen review committee, which will look at key aspects of the canteen operations, such as food quality, pricing, menu variety, and overall student experience, and provide feedback for ongoing improvements. Top photo from Hwa Chong
