FairPrice Foundation, Tan Tock Seng Hospital to roll out programme to teach seniors to eat healthier

SINGAPORE – A nutrition education programme for seniors will be jointly developed by FairPrice Foundation and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) by the end of 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to promote healthy ageing through better diets.

Both inked a memorandum of understanding on Nov 5 to collaborate on the Stay Strong programme to bridge the nutrition gap for seniors islandwide.

This comes as a new survey by FairPrice Foundation, the philanthropic arm of FairPrice Group, found that six in 10 seniors do not know what goes into a healthy plate for their nutritional needs.

The Straits Times had reported that

malnutrition is a growing problem

among seniors in Singapore.

Doctors said this is worrying, given that the city-state is expected to become a super-aged society in 2026, defined internationally as having at least 21 per cent of the population aged 65 or older.

While the programme is still a work in progress, ST understands that it will likely include interactive classroom sessions in senior centres for older adults to learn about the essential nutrients that are important for their well-being.

The sessions will include gamified education, such as bingo-themed matching or guessing games that teach seniors simple ways to eat healthier.

There may also be learning journeys in the supermarket, where seniors can practise evaluating nutrition labels or picking healthier food options.

FairPrice Group’s Own Brands and Food Solutions business will also work with TTSH on developing nutritional solutions to help seniors combat dietary deficiencies. This may include protein-rich food such as proteinaceous drinks to provide seniors with more interesting options to increase their protein intake.

Mr Vipul Chawla, group chief executive of FairPrice Group, said the seniors whom the group and foundation serve show a strong determination to age independently.

“As the nation’s largest retailer, we understand the needs of Singapore’s growing senior population, and want to do our part in supporting them with achieving this ambition, through proper nutrition,” he said.

“This is the foundation of the Stay Strong programme and FairPrice Group – making every day a little better for Singapore’s silver population by bringing nutrition access and education to those who need it most.”

Adjunct Professor Tang Kong Choong, CEO of TTSH, said: “In the hospital, we can see first-hand how nutrition can make all the difference in helping our patients, especially the seniors, to recover faster and be more independent.

“This partnership with FairPrice Foundation will allow us to take our expertise in geriatrics and dietetics beyond the hospital and share it where it matters most – right in the heartland where the seniors are.”

He added that by working together, the partners can give seniors practical knowledge and better access to healthier food options they need to stay healthy, active and well.

The new programme was shaped by insights from the Stay Strong study conducted by FairPrice Foundation in the third quarter of 2025 to understand the nutritional challenges faced by seniors.

The study, which consisted of a survey of more than 500 seniors and interviews with seniors and their caregivers, found that while 86 per cent of seniors recognised the need to eat more nutritiously as they age, more than half could not correctly identify what makes up a healthy plate.

My Healthy Plate

by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) recommends filling a quarter of the plate with whole grains, a quarter with meat and other proteins, and half the plate with fruit and vegetables for a balanced diet.

The survey also showed that taste ranked highest in influencing food choices, with nutrition and cost tied as the fourth priority.

While 67 per cent of seniors agree they need more protein than younger adults, HPB data indicated that one in two seniors still falls short of the recommended protein intake, putting them at risk of muscle loss and frailty.

The study also found that six in 10 seniors rarely seek out new information on nutrition, while seven in 10 said family traditions and eating habits were major factors shaping their food choices.

The Stay Strong programme is the senior-focused pillar of FairPrice Foundation’s broader Start Strong, Stay Strong vision, which also features Singapore’s first pre-school nutrition education programme to give children a foundational understanding of food and nutrition.

Its other initiatives include the

Neighbourhood Food Share

at 60 distribution points by end-2025, providing free fresh fruits and vegetables to residents in need. It also

doubled discounts for Chas blue card and orange card holders

with large families from September to December 2025.

In March 2025, FairPrice Group and FairPrice Foundation announced their commitment to

distribute $1 million worth of protein

in the form of fresh eggs to vulnerable communities, which include seniors and migrant workers, across Singapore by 2030.

A Full Plate, its food donation drive, will reach about 700,000 beneficiaries of 21 community and charity partners in 2025, more than double the number of partners from its launch in 2024. The donation drive will run for two months till Dec 15.

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