There’s no shortage of good food in Singapore, but in the land where cai fan (economy rice) is heaving with saturated fat and a plate of char kway teow is over a staggering 700 calories? It’s not easy to find food that’s as nutritious as it is tasty.
But healthy eating isn’t just about trendy superfoods so don’t panic if your pantry’s short on quinoa, chia seeds, and flaxseed oil. Here are 5 tasty but healthy options to try at United Square:
Little Farms is both a grocery and cafe that’s known for their natural, whole foods, and they deal out fresh produce as much as they dish out cafe fare. Their fruits, veggies, and meats have been thoughtfully sourced from farms around the world so you know you can trust them to whip up a plate of food that any health-conscious person will eagerly gobble up.
All meals are packed for takeaway, and are made with the same produce sold in store. Tuck into their Organic Udon & Smoked Salmon ($9.90) for a flavourful but wholesome meal – it comes with strips of smoked salmon and fresh veggies like red cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, and sweet corn.
They also do vegetarian options like Chickpea and Avocado ($7.90), a hearty sandwich that comes lathered with a generous spread of chickpea and avocado along with vegan dishes like Cauliflower, Lentils & Tempeh Salad ($8.90).
All coffee snobs will be pleased to know that their beans are from Allpress Espresso. We tried their Iced Latte ($6.50) and can give it our stamp of approval: it comes silky smooth with a lingering nutty taste.
Most of the brands they stock up on aren’t any we’ve seen in our local supermarkets – they carry all sort of products like Fermented Kefir Milk (from $9.98) and Barambah Organics Yoghurt ($7.99).
Unit number: #B1-56J/K/L
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 7:30AM-9:30PM
Telephone: 6565 9597
The older generation certainly laps up their chicken essence, and there’s a good reason why: it regulates your blood sugar and keeps your mind sharp. At Tian Yuan Xiang, their Original Chicken Essence ($170/20 packets) is filled with plenty of nutrients. Besides being halal, it’s also low on fat and calories – making it perfect for the health conscious.
Stepping in, there’s nothing old-school about it: it’s one of the more aesthetic stores with its clean, white interior.
One box (20 packets) is made from 3.5 chickens!
They also have chicken essence tailored for different health concerns, like Chicken Essence for Digestion ($200/20 packets) and Chicken Essence for Menstrual Condition ($200/20 packets). Whether you’re mugging for exams or you’re experiencing motherhood for the first time, their chicken essence is a nourishing chicken broth that’ll help boost your energy levels.
Unit number: #B1-24A
Opening hours: Mon to Thu: 10:30AM-9PM, Fri to Sat: 10:30AM-9:30PM, Sun: 10:30AM-9PM
Telephone: 6200 6789
There’s nothing like a poke bowl jam-packed with leafy greens, marinated chunks of salmon, and a generous sprawl of other delish toppings. At Poke Lulu, their poke bowls come in 3 sizes: Small ($11.90), Medium ($15.90), or Large ($19.90).
Poke bowls are usually a mishmash of fresh ingredients and it’s no different here. Once you’ve sorted out your base – white rice, brown rice, or salad – choose 4 complimentary add-ons. I loaded mine up with nori (dried seaweed), Japanese seaweed, walnuts, and a scoop of avocado.
The marinated salmon or tuna chunks came in 3 different marinades: Original, Wasabi Mayo, and Spicy.
There’s also a self-service station where you can add on more sauce to your poke bowl – go wild with their Wafu, Goma, Olive Oil, and Thousand Island dressings, as well as kimchi and ginger slices.
Unit number: #01-K13
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 11:30AM-8:30PM
Telephone: 9118 7145
Healthy eating becomes more of a struggle when you’re wistfully thinking of all things sugary and sweet. Instead of outrightly depriving yourself, reward yourself with a slice of cheesecake from TheJellyHearts. It isn’t just your regular cheesecake, instead, it’s made with fresh fruits, protein-filled cream cheese, digestive biscuit crust, that’s topped off with a layer of low-sugar jelly.
Image credit: TheJellyHearts
Besides their original jelly cheesecake, they also serve up Chocolate, Blueberry, Strawberry, Lychee, Mango, Cookies, and Mosaic – a mix of different fruits. All cakes are halal and are free of preservatives, eggs, and trans fat. Prices start from $4.90 for 2 square slices.
For celebrations and special occasions, TheJellyHearts do up customisable orders like Mosaic Gem with Customised Drawing ($157.90) and 3D Heart Multi Layer Rainbow Cake ($117.90). Since any decorative cream will slide right off the jelly, they do 3D lettering with cut-outs of fresh fruits embedded within the cake itself.
They also have other treats that any sweet tooth will rejoice over, like Marshmallow Pop ($2.70), Chocolate Sticks ($5.10), and Cookie Pop ($3.90).
Unit number: #B1-60A
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 10:30AM-9:30PM
Telephone: 6862 2427
Indulging in pizza usually means a mouthful of cheap cheese and bottled tomato sauce, slathered on bread-like dough. That’s not the case at all with Proofer Bakery & Pizzeria’s freshly-toasted pizzas. You’ve got the basis of the food pyramid right here, especially with their Veggie Deluxe which comes topped with mushroom, sweet pineapple, and black olives.
Their pizzas got a good bite to it, with a crisp crust and moist centre.
If you’re craving for more than veggies, they also offer other flavours like their Proofer Signature – sweet pineapple, fresh ground beef, ham, pepperoni, grilled oregano chicken, and Cheese Lover – a blend of cheddar, mozzarella, and gouda cheese.
You can opt for different sizes so there’s no need to force feed yourself an entire pizza, starting from Quarter Pan ($3.90) to Whole Pan ($13.90).
Unit number: #01-K8
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 8AM-9PM
Telephone: 6256 6263
Image credit: United Square
Whew, all these healthy food choices at United Square makes it much easier to stick to a healthy diet. Whether it’s a fresh poke bowl from Poke Lulu or nutritious chicken essence from Tian Yuan Xiang, United Square’s healthy options pave the pathway to clean eating and a healthy diet.
Wine Connection will also be opening soon at United Square so you can enjoy a tipple or two – after all, we’re recommended a glass of red daily to reap in those health benefits, amirite?
Also, spend a min. of $30* at any of United Square’s F&B outlets on weekday nights to get $2 Carpark Rebate from 16 July to 24 August 2018.
*T&Cs apply. Valid after 6PM.
This post was brought to you by United Square Shopping Mall.
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