Healthy eating

Healthy food delivery in Singapore: Faba Food Review

If there are countless healthy food options in Singapore, we are always on the lookout for new concepts – This week, we test out the latest meal delivery service in town, Faba Food, and their plant-based recipes. Did they manage to combine flavours, vegan products and sustainability? It’s time to find out.

What is Faba? How does it work, and how is it different from its competitors?

Sean and Alex, two entrepreneurs with a strong background in food manufacturing and retail, had the goal to make food delivery more sustainable through better delivery practices and lower carbon footprint food.
They created Faba in 2021, and aimed to combine sustainability with (in their own words): taste, nutrition, affordability, convenience and an ever-growing appetite for plant-based food. And based on our experience, they have done pretty well:

Taste – The team has experience with food, and it shows – the recipes are well crafted and much closer to comfort food than diet meals. It’s hearty; it’s filling; it’s flavourful.

Nutrition – Whilst most brands on the market focus on a specific diet or trend (keto, low calorie, low GI.. ), Faba food focuses more on offering balanced meals.
Each meal contains around 500kcal and 20g of protein – but some recipes are richer in carbs and fats.
They might not be the best option for weight loss strictly speaking, but they are balanced enough to fit a healthy and active lifestyle.

Affordability – with 6meal bundles priced at $88 ( slightly less than $15 a meal + a 10% discount if you sign up for more than a week), using Faba is cheaper than getting individual meals delivered from Grab or Food Panda. It is, however, slightly more expensive than some other meal subscription services, as most work with bigger bundles.

Convenience – Ordering from the website is a hassle-free process – one can either get the pre-made bundle made of all six recipes currently available or customise their order and choose the recipes they like the most.
The food is prepared and frozen in their kitchen on the East of the island and delivered twice a week by dedicated Faba drivers.
The meals arrive at your doorstep in a well-designed box – layered with insulation sheets, it can stay up to 8 hours outside without compromising the quality of its content.

Plant-based – Faba meals are 100% vegan (they contain no animal or animal-derived ingredients) – which is a first in Singapore. Interestingly, the brand doesn’t use processed meat substitutes or “fake meats” and instead chooses to emphasise naturally high-protein ingredients.

Lastly, sustainability is a big part of Faba’s promise and what we enjoyed the most about the service.
Whilst many brands only use sustainability as a marketing point, Faba embedded this value into their concept.
They focus on keeping a low carbon footprint, sourcing ingredients locally and eliminating meat & dairy.
The delivery system only runs a couple of days a week, and each box contains six meals (vs one for the usual food delivery services)
Lastly, it is worth noting that not only customers can recycle the boxes, but the insulation sheets inside are made with recycled clothes and can also be kept and reused.

But most importantly, is the food good?

We got a chance to try out all of the six options currently available – the team is working on adding more by the end of the summer, and we’d be curious to test these too.

Note: All meals are individual portions, 400g and around 500kcal each

Our favourite meal was probably the Smoky Chili Bowl. With great texture and flavours, It is also the lowest in calories and the highest in protein (24g/portion). The Chickpea and Eggplant tagine was also a winner – creative flavours and the perfect amount of spice.

The Maca Greens and Rigatoni Bolognese are on the more traditional side – but we particularly enjoyed the almond parm on the latest, and the new dimension it brings to a classic.

The Tofu Tikka Masala was incredibly flavourful, but we would have loved more vegetables to make the most of the delicious sauce.

Finally, although very tasty, the Chipotle Burrito Bowl was too heavy on the carbs to our liking, but it is easy to imagine brunch lovers loving it.

The ingredients’ freshness is remarkable, and all recipes were perfectly seasoned, which is rare for frozen meals. More than anything, we enjoyed the convenience of it – for a whole week, there was no need to cook after work – only take out one of the boxes from the freezer, pierce the film and put it straight into the microwave for 8 minutes.

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Last thoughts

Far from the old stereotypes around vegetarian food, Faba food is ideal for vegans & vegetarians and meat eaters who want to make small changes toward a more sustainable lifestyle.
It might not be the best option if you are actively trying to lose weight, but if you are trying to make healthier choices (and save time) while still eating delicious food daily, Faba is resolutely worth a try.

Check out their website & order here

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Healthy eating

Singapore’s Healthy Restaurants review: The Whole Kitchen CBD Bakery Café

After two years of being incredibly quiet, Singapore’s CBD is finally coming back to life – And if you are looking for a clean meal on your way to the office, it is time to visit The Whole Kitchen‘s newest outlet, as they now serve breakfast and lunch to gym-goers and businesspeople alike.
Let’s have a look and find out about the restaurant and their gluten-free menu.

The location, the place & the vibe

The Whole Kitchen Bakery Cafe is located in the CBD at the corner of Mccallum and Robinson Road – it is the brand’s second outlet, opened in late 2021, after a successful launch in Katong.
As expected, the place gets busy (yet not crowded) during lunchtime – but it is also open for breakfast and afternoon tea. The decor is bright and natural, and the staff is very welcoming—a breath of fresh air in the ever-busy CBD.
The indoor seating area is surprisingly spacious and doesn’t get as noisy as some other places – I can picture myself having coffee meetings and sharing lunch with colleagues there.

The food & drinks

The lunch menu offers a wide variety of 100% gluten-free sandwiches (fresh & toasted), salads, soups and other bakery goods. I had the Saigon sandwich with chicken, a side of the Clean Green Goddess, and tried the daily soup (pumpkin) and keto quiche. All of it was beautifully plated and incredibly flavourful.

whole kitchen singapore saigon sandwich — The Tumeric bread brings the Saigon Chicken Sandwich to the next level

the whole kitchen singapore pumkin soup — The Pumkin Soup was perfect on a chilly and rainy day

the whole kitchen singapore keto quiche — Keto Quiche

The only downside: the portions are quite small – perfect for a quick lunch that won’t let you groggy in the afternoon, but you might want to consider adding one of their bakery items if you are starving.

I would also love for the menu to show the nutritional values of each item to make life easier for people tracking their macros.

(menu available here)

What are the healthiest options on The Whole Kitchen’s menu?

If we are looking at the most balanced dishes, the winners are:

The Saigon Chicken/tofu Sandwich
The salmon & avocado charcoal roll
All salads with (with one of the protein add-ons)

What is not so healthy on the menu?

Because of the ingredients used to create compelling textures and flavours without gluten, some recipes can be pretty calorie-dense. This includes the keto bread, coconut cookies and most keto items, which need to be eaten in moderation if you are watching your intake.

From the breakfast menu, the only “guilty pleasure” is probably banana toastie – again, all-natural ingredients, but it combines fresh banana, the Whole Kitchen’s peanut butter and hazelnut cacao butter on gluten-free bread. Fantastic to recover from a strenuous workout, or share with your kids (they apparently love it) but not necessarily the lightest, calorie-wise.

the whole kitchen singapore spread butter chocolate — The Whole Kitchen’s peanut butter and Hazelnut cacao butter spreads

Last thoughts

You don’t need to be a fitness buff or a nutrition junkie to enjoy the Whole Kitchen’s delicacies. There is something for everyone, and The Whole Kitchen CBD Bakery Cafe is a fantastic place to get an energizing breakfast or lunch. It feels so good to eat clean.

The Whole Kitchen – 2 locations
CBD Bakery Cafe – 120 Robinson Road, 01-01, 068913
Katong Bakery Cafe – 11 East Coast Road, Odeon Building, #01-16 428722

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Fitness & Performance

8 Trends in the Fitness and Wellness industry spotted at the Fit Summit 2022 in Singapore

After more than 2 years of attending online events and watching Zoom recordings, we almost forgot how fantastic physical events were. The Fit Summit was back in Singapore this June with the 2022 World Health, Fitness and Wellness Festival. 3 days to discover new products and technologies, try out the latest food trends, learn from industry experts and discuss and share ideas with peers.
If we thoroughly enjoyed the event, seeing new faces and meeting up with old friends, we were also amazed by the new ideas emerging this year – the fitness industry is changing, and for the better.
Let’s take a look at 8 trends that will shape the fitness & wellness world in 2022-2023.

What are the new Fitness trends?

1. Data everywhere

For a few years already, wearable tracking devices have been a must-have when it comes to personal fitness, both for regular gym-goers and athletes. Fitbit, Garmin, Polar are all in the game to provide the user with as much data as possible in an easy-to-understand way, to help them optimize their training and share their results online.
Technology also takes it further in gyms and offers more precise ways to track your progress.
InBody, one of the most famous body composition analyzer brands, keep perfecting their impedance meters, to provide evermore comprehensive analysis in reports that are easy to understand by anyone looking to know more about their own body.
Other companies, like Visbody are going a step further, offering full 3D body scans – the perfect way to find out about imbalances and correct them at the gym. Users can then track their progress very closely – it is not always easy to spot the difference in the mirror, and precise reports come in handy.

2. Hyper-personalisation is key

For too long, Fitness and Nutrition were considered with a one-size-fits-all model. However, we now have the data needed to understand that not every individual needs to train or fuel the same way.
The optimum regime depends on a dozen factors, including body composition, age, gender, lifestyle and personal choices. The trainers can no longer apply methods that worked “for them”; they must focus on what works for each of their clients.
Some new technologies, including Shae.ai’s, are aiming to help their users better understand their specific needs, based on a series of questions & simple body analysis, to provide them with tailored recommendations, based on trusted medical studies. It’s all about what works for you, not for others.

3. Enjoyment should be at the centre of anyone’s training

“No pain, no gain” is a concept of the past – it is time to focus again on having fun and (actually) enjoying the workouts. Most of us don’t enjoy very intense workouts – and that’s ok!
A specific type of workout can be the best physiologically to get results, but if we are not enjoying it, we are much less likely to stick to it and get the promised results. Everyone should be looking for a physical activity they enjoy to work towards their goals without it being a chore.
We see a comeback of smaller group classes, Pilates and other “softer” disciplines, helped by new equipment ranges.

4. Post-pandemic changes are here to stay

Gyms had to adapt drastically during and after the covid epidemic to survive. To be successful, both big groups and boutique gyms have to focus on what the client wants – but also who the new client is.
Younger or much older, and generally less experienced, a new audience is now stepping into the gym and needs to be guided and educated.

The Gym Pod understood it perfectly – besides affordable and private spaces to workout, attracting youngsters and beginners, they also provide virtual guidance during the session. Customers can access pre-defined workouts directly on the connected mirror placed in each pod, and check out the correct form for weightlifting exercises if and as needed.

5. Technology is making home workouts actually efficient

During the successive lockdowns, we all tried to work out at home – and for some of us, it has been quite challenging, because of the lack of guidance.
Elitefit.ai provides a technology that tracks home workout enthusiasts’ form and makes sure they train with the perfect form. They are partnering with content creators and corporations to provide employees with home workouts, while tracking their posture using their laptop, tablet or phone’s camera to ensure each move is done correctly—a game-changer.

What about nutrition Trends?

6. Healthy food can’t be boring anymore – it’s all about natural ingredients and flavours

Say goodbye to bland “diet” foods – eating healthy should be a synonym for delicious and nutritious food instead.

The creations from the Clean Addicts achieve precisely that – a mix of intriguing new textures, great flavours and natural ingredients. In our opinion, their most incredible recipe is, to us at least, the Chocolate mochi muffins – available in 3 flavours (peanut butter, black sesame and double chocolate), and low in sugar and calories, they make a fantastic snack or dessert.
Another of their best sellers? A healthy version of the traditional mooncake – the green tea flavoured one is to die for.

mochi muffin the clean addicts — Mini mochi muffin – Chocolate from The Clean Addicts

Scoopz also presented a range of healthier ice cream – no added sugar, no dairy, only natural ingredients. You can expect a creamy texture and tons of flavours, without the usual sweet taste. There are a dozen of flavours to choose from, but our favourite would be Durian, green tea and banana walnut.

scoopz healthy icecream — Green Tea and Chocolate icecream from Scoopz

7. Towards a more sustainable diet: plant-based food deserves its spot under the spotlight

5 years ago, vegans and vegetarians were arguably part of a minority. Things have radically changed, and a lot of people are willing now to take a step toward a plant-based diet – even if it only means switching to meat alternatives a few times a week.
It is possible though to go further, as we see more and more plant-based products emerging. More affordable (and less fancy) than meat alternatives or lab-grown meat – yet absolutely delicious when done right.
And as the founder of Faba Food rightly said, a lot more people would be vegan if vegan food tasted better. That’s how they developed a range of frozen meals, packed and delivered in a more sustainable way than most other actors in the market. The company has created a series of tasty recipes, and lets customers order packs of 6 meals, that are delivered frozen and are perfect to simply reheat and enjoy after a long day at work.

The Whole Kitchen also presented a few samples from their Vegan collection: an abundance of bread, biscuits, brownies and granola that are every bit as good as their non-vegan counterparts.

8. Healthy food, the convenient way

Like Faba Food, many food companies have listened to their customers – most people are keen on eating healthy, or healthier at least, as long as it doesn’t take hours in the kitchen and tastes good.
Ketomei, for example, specialises in weight loss and offers meals inspired by traditional Singaporean recipes and following the principle of the keto diet (high fat, moderate protein, no carb). It is an easy way to stay on track and shred a few kgs, without thinking twice about what you eat.
The same group is also behind FitFresh, which focuses more on healthy eating and muscle gain – and all you have to do is to choose, based on your goals, taste and macros.

ketomei keto meals — Keto meals from Ketomei

Once more, Singapore proved that it is the best place to discover new trends, and a market with a growing appetite for all things fitness and health. We can’t wait to see what will come next!

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Fitness & Performance

How to stick to your healthy diet and training while travelling?

Now that Singapore residents can travel (almost) freely again, we are all tempted to book trips around Asia or further.
If the primary objective remains to have fun and make the most of the trip, people currently on a weight loss or muscle gain journey can find it quite challenging to maintain their lifestyle while travelling.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind to stay on track during your trip – and come back even stronger.

1. Stay on the lookout for a way to train – and be ready to embrace the unexpected

Depending on where you go, it is not always easy to find exactly the type of gym or facilities you are used to. The bad news is, it is very likely that you will have to go with the flow and go to a traditional gym if you are into Crossfit, or rent a less-than-adequate bike if you are a cyclist.
The good news is that it is an excellent way to discover new disciplines, try out new equipment, and maybe find a new hobby on the way.
If your sport isn’t available where you are spending your time off, you will probably find other ways to exercise – pick up Muay Thai or diving, go hiking in the mountains, or visit the open-air gyms that are available in most warm countries. It is not about sticking 100% to your usual program – it is about enjoying your time away and still burning some calories or working out these muscles.

2. Stay active on a daily basis

For many of us, being on holiday pretty much means doing nothing. There’s nothing bad about it, but you might want to consider implementing at least 1 hour of physical activity (walking, hiking, cycling) every day. You have plenty of time on your hands, and dedicating 4% of your day to your health is a great thing to take care of your own body.
Staying active is all about small choices – take the stairs instead of the elevators, walk instead of hailing a cab (even if it is very cheap), rent a bike rather than a motorbike… It all adds up.

3. Keep your nutrition in mind – but don’t forget to enjoy local delicacies

Again, it’s not about making new changes to your diet or counting macros rigorously – that’s what daily life is for. But if you are trying to lose weight, try to avoid substantial excess calories when possible, by going for smaller portions and avoiding bread or sweets when you already feel full. Avoid as well to drink your calories – like in fancy coffee drinks, milkshakes, cocktails… Focus on what you really want to eat and drink, and avoid what’s unnecessary.
And of course, if you are trying to gain muscle or maintain your muscle mass, ensure you are getting enough protein, by having at least one source of protein (animal or plant-based) on your plate at each meal.

It is fairly easy to learn how to spot the healthier options in restaurants:

– Make sure your choice contains one source of protein – Meat, fish, eggs, tofu, tempeh, quinoa, mix of cereal & legumes, etc
– Go for steamed or boiled, instead of deep-fried. Stir-fried is better than deep-fried, but still more oily than the 2 first options.
– Avoid heavy sauces (tomato-based sauces are the lightest) when possible, or ask for the sauce on the side, so you can control the portions.

Finally, keep in mind that you can ask for less sugar, no MSG, or extra meat or tofu in most restaurants.

Enjoy your trip away and stay healthy!

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Healthy eating

Is your Kaya Toast Breakfast Set healthy?

In this new series of articles, we intend to unpack (in a very detailed manner) some of the most loved dishes here, in Singapore. How many calories do they contain, can they be part of a healthy diet, how to make them healthier? And we kickstart it today with one of the most iconic breakfast set: kaya toast & soft boiled eggs.

1. What’s in it?

Nothing new under the sun: a kaya toast set is usually composed of 2 slices of white bread with 2 spoons of kaya and a couple of thin slices of margarine/butter in between, along with 2 soft boiled eggs.

Let’s break it down:

2 x slice of white toast: 175kcal, 36g of carbs including 4g of sugar, 6g of protein
2 spoons of Kaya spread (20g): 62kcal, 5g of carbs including 3g of sugar
10g of butter/margarine: 70kcal, 8g of fat
2 x boiled egg: 140kcal, 10g of fat, 12g of protein

Total = 447kcal, 41g carbs (inc. 7g sugar),18g fat, 18g protein

If you add a Kopi (coffee with condensed milk), that’s an extra ~120kcal and 8g more of fat.

2. Is Kaya Toast a healthy option?

Short answer: sort of. It is not the lightest in calories but contains a decent amount of protein – don’t skip the eggs, they are the most nutritious part!
It is a hearty & somewhat balanced meal that should keep you full until lunch.

3. How to make it healthier?

Skip the Kopi, which adds unnecessary calories and fat content, and go for a Kopi O kosong instead (5kcal).
If you can – or if you are making it at home – swap the white bread for wholemeal sliced bread to get some fibres, take the butter off, and add a side of fruit (whole, not juiced!) to get more vitamins.

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Healthy eating

Eating Healthy at the Hawker Centre: guide + 8 healthy options you can find everywhere in Singapore

You would like to eat healthier but don’t have the time to shop, prep and cook every day? Here is a quick guide to some of the healthiest options available in your local hawker centre – and some tips on what you should try to avoid.

First things first: the “healthiest” doesn’t mean the “lowest in calories”. This is a misconception many articles on the same topic are pushing – but you do need to pay the same attention to the nutrients your body will get from the meal.

There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a “healthy” dish:

It needs to include some protein (plant or animal-based). Think meat, fish, eggs, tofu. Your body needs protein at every meal, and skipping it to save on calories isn’t healthy at all. A good portion of protein is approx the size of a deck of cards (or a mobile phone).
If any ingredient is deep-fried or served with a dense, heavy sauce (often packed with oil & sugar), you know it won’t be healthy. Even if it’s soup.
Pay attention to the portion of carbs – ask for 1/2 rice or noodles, and go for the wholemeal option if available. White carbs don’t keep you full for long, and they are quite calorie-dense. Ask for more vegetables to get some good fibres & vitamins that will last longer in your stomach.
Even if it has the “healthier option” logo doesn’t mean it is “healthy”. Most of these dishes have been labelled that way because they contain fewer calories – but again, calories are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to adopting healthier food habits.

1. Sliced fish soup

Sliced fish soup is a great option, as it contains quite a lot of protein (from the fish), along with fibres. Make it healthier by asking for 1/2 rice or noodles – but don’t forget that the soup contains quite a lot of salt, so make sure you balance it with a lot of drinking water after your meal.

Side note: this doesn’t apply to fish ball soup, as fishballs are mostly flour and don’t contain enough protein to make your bowl a healthy meal.

Picture: Danielfooddiary

2. Thunder tea rice

It includes several types of vegetables & greens, and in most places, you can swap white rice for wild/brown rice. Make sure you get some protein as a topping – tofu or egg – to build a healthy yet filling bowl that will keep you full until dinner.

thunder tea rice healthy hawker — Picture: The meatmen Channel

3. Kaya Toast set with Soft Boiled Eggs

You’ve got your portion of protein with the eggs & some carbs to keep you full all morning. If possible, ask to skip the margarine/butter slice as that doesn’t bring anything interesting nutrition-wise, or maybe have only 1 of the toasts.

As it often comes with a kopi, make sure to go for a simple black coffee and avoid adding 200kcal+ of concentrated milk to a healthy meal.

4. Chicken porridge with extra egg

Most porridges are a decently healthy option, as they contain a lot of water. You can choose the flavour you want, but keep in mind that there’s rarely enough chicken in the porridge to give you enough protein, and you can always ask for a double portion of meat.

5. Oyster Omelette

All oyster omelettes are not equal, as some stalls use a lot more cooking oil than others. However, the initial recipe is quite healthy: protein & good fats brought by the eggs, and even more protein from the oysters. If you can, get a side of veggies to complete your plate.

6. Poke Bowls

Some hawker centres, including Amoy Street, have stalls offering poke bowls – a clean, often palm oil-free option, packed with protein & good fat (with the tuna or salmon), veggies & a layer of rice.

If you can, ask for wild/brown rice to make it even healthier, and swap the rice for some salad if you’re not very hungry, to save up to 300kcal.

7. Salads from Salad Bars

If you get the option to build your own salad, make sure you get enough protein (portions of protein, as ingredients, are more expensive, so tend to be a bit small) and get a small amount of carbs (brown rice or quinoa) to keep you full throughout the day.

8. Japanese Bento Boxes

Some stalls serve well-balanced Bentos – make sure you get one with fish, meat or tofu, and avoid going for the deep-fried options, like tempura. The portions of rice are usually small, making it a great choice if you are watching your calorie intake.

Bottom line:

Eating healthy when you’re not able to cook your own food can be a bit tricky. But if you keep the following simple rules in mind, you are sure to avoid calorie bombs:

Always get some protein on your plate (meat, fish, eggs or plant-based protein)
Avoid deep-fried food (chicken, noodles, fish)
Avoid heavy sauces & curries that can add up to 300kcal per plate
Whenever possible, fill half of your plate with veggies & greens – they’ll keep you full longer
Swap white rice & noodles for the wholemeal/wholegrain version, if available.

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Easy Healthy Recipes

Fudgy Healthy Brownie: quick & easy recipe

Valentine’s day is just around the corner and I thought it would be great to share with you one of my favourite low-sugar dessert recipes. The best part? You’ll need only 10min to prep, and there is no need for crazy niche ingredients – you probably have everything in your pantry already. Ready? Let’s get started!

Please note that this recipe isn’t fat-free: to obtain the fudgy, melting texture, there is a need to add a bit of coconut oil. The moisture is created by the grated zucchini, which can be replaced by Apple Sauce (100g) – but this will change the final taste.

Which liquid sweetener should you use? You can pick agave syrup, liquid stevia, maple syrup, honey or sugar-free options (like MyProtein sugarfree syrups) but bear in mind that it won’t work with dry sweeteners: the recipe calls for moisture, and this ingredient is key!

The quantities given are enough to make a 6slice brownie – if you desire to make a bigger cake, feel free to double the quantity of cocoa powder, flour & oil. Keep 1 egg only.

Healthy & Gooey Chocolate Brownie

a quick recipe to get a sweet, yet healthy dessert on the table tonight

Print Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 6 slices

Ingredients

1 grated zucchini
70 g wholemeal flour
20 g unsweetened cocoa powder
40 g melted coconut oil
20 g liquid sweetener see recommendations above
1 egg
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a square cake pan with, and line with parchment/cooking paper. Parchment paper helps the cakes seamlessly release from the pans.
Grate the zucchini on a hand gratter, or mix it quickly in a blender, in order to obtain a moist paste. Place it on a paper towel to take some of the moisture out, then store it in a bowl in the fridge. The objetive is to let the water get out, without drying the zucchini out completely.
In a recipient, mix all wet ingredients: egg, liquid sweetener, coconut oil & vanilla extract.
In another bowl, mix all dry ingredients: flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking soda.
Gently incorporate the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients - you should obtain a dense dough.
Get the zucchini paste out the fridge. Get rid of the water that has accumulated inside the bowl, then squeeze it gently one last time in a paper towl, before incorporating it to the dough.
Take a spoon and taste the mixture - if it is not sweet enough, you can add a bit more of liquid sweetener or powdered sweetener (stevia, sucralose...) Then, pour in the cake pan and place in the oven.
Bake for 27-30 minutes. The center of the brownie should be still very soft when you take it out (check with a knife). Let it cool for at least 1hr, before slicing it.
The brownie can be stored in the fridge or at room temperature for 1 or 2 days. It tends to get fudgier if refrigerated. Alternatively, you can freeze some slices and keep them up to 3months (make sure you cut and separate the slices before placing them in the freezer).

Keyword cake, chocolate, dessert, healthy dessert, healthy snack

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Healthy eating

Singapore’s Healthy Restaurants review: The Kind Bowl

On my quest to find the best healthy restaurants in Singapore, I had no choice but to give the Kind Bowl’s Vegan Vietnamese cuisine a try. Many of my vegan friends swear only by this place when it comes to getting an affordable, delicious dinner – meat-free of course, but packed with authentic flavours. It sounded almost too good to be true, so I finally went last week, and here is my honest review.

The location, the place & the vibe

The Kind Bowl is located on Killiney Road; a short walk from Somerset 313 – a quiet street where it is easy to forget about Orchard Road’s craziness after working hours.

The restaurant is relatively small – a dozen tables inside and a couple of larger tables outside – so you may want to arrive early to beat the queue. However, even during peak hours, the food comes quickly to the tables – you won’t wait for long if you can’t find a spot right away.

The atmosphere is friendly and chill – not a date spot per se, but a great place to meet up with friends or colleagues after an intense day.

The food & drinks

Their menu is straightforward – you get 5 to 7 main dishes to choose from, along with a few sides and desserts.

Of course, the most famous is the Kind Pho – a vegan version of the traditional Vietnamese noodle soup, where the meat is replaced with chicken-like Seitan. The broth is flavorful, and the portion is quite large. Their latest addition, the BBQ delight, offers a broad range of flavours and some exciting combinations of textures – the fried mushroom rolls are to die for.

The salads are relatively small, but very tasty too – 2 mains & a side were the perfect amount of food for 2.

They don’t serve alcohol but have an interesting drinks menu, based on natural ingredients.

Price-wise, expect to spend around $10 for a main and $5 for a side/dessert.

What are the healthiest options on The Kind Bowl’s menu?

The “Eat the Rainbowl”, BBQ Delight & Tropical Salads are the most balanced options, as they contain a decent amount of protein, vitamins and fibres, thanks to the fresh veggies.

The kind Pho is a great option too, although the noodle portion is very generous, while the protein content remains relatively low. It is worth noting that none of the dishes feels oily or heavy, and the portions are just right – you’ll feel great after a meal.

BBQ delight the kind bowl menu — BBQ Delight (New 2021)

What is not so healthy on the menu?

The No-Moo Spicy Noodle is both carb & oil-rich, making it the least healthy option available, along with the oyster mushroom fritters.

Both their bubble teas & ice latte are pretty rich too, so if you are trying to control your intake, you should probably go for one of the herbal teas instead.

Some last thoughts

I had heard many good things about this place and was delighted to get to try it out finally. I will, without a doubt, go back whenever I’m in the area. They also do delivery – check out their website to learn more.

The Kind Bowl, 71 Killiney Rd, Singapore 239527

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Healthy eating

Healthy weekly meal planner: easy food ideas to get back on track

Eating healthy might be a bit of a challenge, especially if you don’t have much time to think and plan ahead – what to eat, how to make a healthy meal, what should you get as a snack? So many questions you may have in mind – maybe even using them as an excuse not to get started.
That’s why we have put together for you an entire week of clean eating – nothing too fancy to prepare or cook, and you can plan in advance when you go grocery shopping.

Of course, you can adapt each meal according to your dietary restrictions or preferences – combinations indicated here are just guidelines.
Portion wise, make sure 50% of your plate is filled with vegetables, 25% with your source of protein (plant-based or meat/fish) and 25% with starches.
Don’t eat when you are not hungry and stop when you are full – and make sure you drink tons of water during the day!

weekly meal planner healthy food — Feel free to save it, screenshot it or print it!

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Healthy eating

Healthy restaurant review: Shake Farm

Starting here a series of healthy restaurant reviews – starting easy too, as I picked what is for me one of the best places in the CBD to get a healthy lunch or grab dinner on your way home: Shake Farm HQ, in Telok Ayer.

The location, the venue & the vibe

You can’t really find a more vibrant street – on weekdays, at least – and it’s only a few meters away from Telok Ayer MRT. Perfect if you work in the CBD area (a bit less convenient if you plan to drive there, parking slots are quite limited in the neighbourhood.)

The venue is really cute, located in a 2storey shophouse – there’s a “farm” theme going on, but the best part is probably the 2nd floor and the quirky paintings & furniture. It’s a nice place to come for breakfast, or to work all day with a coffee (it gets busy during lunchtime, so don’t expect to take your 1pm call from there, though.

shakefarm hq night evening singapore dinner

That being said, I’d love to see it becoming more popular after work – for now, it is pretty much a lunch place, and it doesn’t get as much traction later during the day, even if they serve nice beers & organic wine. The staff is also very used to the craziness of the lunch rush – but they are struggling a bit to create a nice dinner atmosphere (the only downside I found there!)

They organise activities from time to time, hosting yoga sessions or talks – something they should probably emphasize more, as the venue looks like it was made for it.

The food & drinks

First thing first: they have a BIG menu (quite literally, it’s a huge page) but the ingredients are fresh, and all combinations work perfectly. Inspiration comes a bit from everywhere: Sunday Roasts, traditional brunch plate, burrito-style salads… there is a lot to choose from and you can go quite regularly without getting bored.

I have to admit I fell in love with their bowls and salads: hearty, healthy, and prepared with love. Bowls tend to be more filling, as they contain carbs, while salads don’t. Portions are generous, still – and you can’t leave without trying their beetroot hummus.
You can also craft your own bowl – either from scratch, or by adding/removing things from the signature dishes. They have vegan and gluten-free options if required.
Pro-tip: make any dish low-carb by replacing the quinoa or rice with their cauliflower rice. Delicious & filling, yet much less calorie-dense.

Price-wise, expect to spend 14 to 20$ per bowl – breakfast options being a bit cheaper (you can get toasts for 7$).

salad bowls and muesli smoothie bowl shake farm hq singapore

What are the healthiest options on Shake Farm’s menu?

Short answer: mostly everything.
The great thing is that you can choose the option that is the best fit for your nutritional needs just by looking at the menu: macros are indicated (although if some of them sound a bit too good to be true) and, thanks to a colour code, you can spot at a glance which ones are highest in protein (if you’re coming back from a workout) or in carbs (if you’re getting ready for a training session.)
If you want a high protein, super filling lunch or dinner, you should probably pick the Beef bros.
If you’re looking for something lighter, both the Mexicana & the superfoods salad are delicious.

They also have a few protein bars to choose from if you want to grab a snack or a dessert on the go – which is a GREAT idea.

What is not so healthy on the menu?

If they are made with fresh ingredients and without added sugar, fruit smoothies are still packed with natural sugar – regardless of where they come from. Containing up to 400kcal a portion, and virtually no other macronutrient than fast-processing carbs, they might not be the best option if you’re willing to lose or control your weight. Of course, they are packed with vitamins, and still a much better option than any pastries or industrial products – just make sure you’re going to use this energy afterwards.

Some last thoughts

Shake Farm is one of my favourite places around, I can’t lie about it – As a huge healthy food advocate, I found there everything I was looking for – If I want to get a healthy meal, I’ll always try to cook and bring it from home first, but when it’s not an option, then Shake Farm is definitely my go-to option.
You can get their food delivered too – and they are on Entertainer (at the time this article is written, you can get 25% off the bill).

Shake Farm HQ, 126 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068595

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