Can you get enough protein from hawker food?

It is possible to meet one’s protein needs with hawker food, said NUH’s Tan. It just depends on what one chooses to eat and how much, the principal dietitian at NUH’s Department of Dietetics said.

But how much protein is there in our favourite chicken rice, char kway teow or nasi lemak? The issue is more acutely felt by those who have to rely on budget meals offered by hawkers, as these appear to be lacking in the required nutrients.

An experiment by our CNA TODAY colleagues last year found that in most of the budget meals, protein was lacking or disguised to make portions look larger than they actually were. Instead, the majority of the meals relied heavily on carbohydrates like noodles and rice.

Ms Tan noted that many popular hawker dishes “prioritise flavour and satiety (the feeling of being full)” through carbohydrates and fats rather than protein. Fried rice, thosai or mee goreng can be “surprisingly low in protein” despite being filling and satisfying, she said.

“This creates a false sense of nutritional adequacy that may leave individuals unknowingly falling short of their protein requirements,” Ms Tan added.