How Too Much Hawker Food Can Sabotage Your Health
From crispy prata at 2.a.m. to that plate of char kway teow on your lunchbreak, Singapore’s hawker culture is iconic for good reason — it’s affordable and packed with flavour. But if your daily diet revolves around hawker food only, your body might be paying a price you don’t see yet.
So, what happens when you eat hawker food all the time? It’s not just about gaining few kilos, we’re talking energy crashes, blood pressure spikes and other long-term risks that sneak up on you.
The First Few Hours: Incoming Food Coma
Sugar High, Energy Crash
That plate of Mee Goreng or Chicken Rice is carb-heavy, meaning it’ll spike your blood sugar once it enters your bloodstream. But this doesn’t last long, and soon you’ll find yourself tired and sleepy.
Sodium Spike
Soy sauce, salted fish, all these flavour bombs are packed full of sodium. Your body reacts to sodium by holding on to water, making you feel bloated and puffier than usual.
Fat Overload
Fried Carrot Cake? Shiok, but it’s loaded up with unhealthy fats that slow down digestion and leave you feeling sluggish for the rest of the afternoon.
After Weeks of Daily Hawker Meals
Belly Gains
All the extra calories from carbs, fats and sugar add up fast. That daily hawker habit is likely to expand your waistline, and soon your favourite jeans won’t fit!
Blood Pressure Rising
Too much sodium puts extra stress on your blood vessels. Over time, this can lead to hypertension, even if you’re still young.
Gut on Strike
Most hawker dishes lack fibre, and low fibre = slow digestion. That means bloating, constipation, and a not so happy gut microbiome. Sounds awful, right?
The Long Game: It Isn’t Pretty
Chronic Illnesses Knock
A diet high in calories but low in nutrients increases your risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Organ Damage
Your kidneys and liver are working overtime to process all that sodium and fat. Over time, they will begin to wear down, leading to chronic conditions like kidney disease or fatty liver.
Shorter Lifespan
It’s more than feeling tired or bloated. In the long run, a diet high in sodium and fat can potentially reduce your lifespan, due to its cumulative effects on your cardiovascular system.
Hack Your Hawker Habits (Without Going Full Salad)
Tips on making healthier hawker food choices:
- 🔥 Go Steamed or Grilled: Swap fried for grilled chicken or steamed fish
- 🧂 Lighten the Sauce: Ask for less sauce or switch to light soy sauce
- 🥗 Add veggies: Order a veggie side or choose dishes with greens
- 💧Drink Smart: Ditch the teh peng and go for water or unsweetened tea
Final Bite
Hawker food might be a national treasure, but so is your health. With a few tweaks and small changes, you can still enjoy your favourite dishes. You don’t have to cut it out completely, the key is to maintain a good balance in your diet. You may not see the results now, but your future self will sure be glad you did.
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This article was written in collaboration with Karthik Pillay, Neural Nutritionist and Founder of Neural Performance Institute.
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This article is for your information only and does not consider your specific investment objectives, financial situation or needs. We recommend that you seek advice from a Prudential Representative before making a commitment to purchase a policy. T&Cs apply. Protected up to specified limits by SDIC. Information is correct as at 25 September 2025.