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Makan
Makan
Although great for the tastebuds, Malaysia’s buffet of cuisine choices can sometimes be
a tad bit too rich for the hips.
ManveenMaan
gives you the lowdown on the nutritional
knowledge of these delectable goodies, and their calorie-savvy alternatives.
Let’s Count Your
Calories
Unhealthy meal option:
Char kuay teow
Jam-packed with noodles, eggs, prawns, bean
sprouts, fried in garlic, soy sauce and chilli, this
lip-smackingly delicious dish is extremely high
in saturated fat. A single plate of this clocks in at
a massive 742 calories, with an average portion
containing nearly 40g of fat – that’s 10g more
than the recommended daily allowance! Frequent
consumption of this spells not only the potential for
weight gain, but also an increase in health risks.
Healthy meal option:
Chik kut teh
A chicken version of the original dish, this
delicious meal has its roots in China and is best
enjoyed on a rainy day. The clear, herbal soup
is seasoned with garlic, pepper and traditional
herbs and spices. Stay away from the deep fried
breadsticks
(yau
char kuay),
go easy on the rice
and stock up on vegetables like mushrooms and
lettuce found in the soup and you will be clocking
in a mere 310 calories per servings.
Unhealthy breakfast option:
Nasi lemak
A typical Malaysian breakfast,
nasi lemak
offers up to about 650 calories. Add a
piece of fried chicken and that’s an extra
290 calories. Wash it all down with a cup
of
teh
tarik
and you can add another 83
calories to your grand total. At a whopping
1017 calories, your breakfast alone might
put you in the running for a stint on The
Biggest Loser.
Healthy breakfast option:
Half-boiled eggs
It may not sound as appealing as a big
plate of
nasi lemak
but it is healthier,
lighter and earns a coveted spot on the
low-GI food list. Just two plain half-boiled
eggs on plain bread (without butter or
kaya) will add a mere 227 calories to your
morning intake. Wash it down with a cup
of tea (without sugar) and you have got
yourself a protein-filled meal that will give
you energy throughout the day and keep
the calorie count low.