Malaysians are urged to rethink healthy eating as a man says local dishes like nasi ulam and ikan bakar are affordable, nutritious and sustainable.

WHEN Malaysians these days think about healthy eating, there is no denying that salads and grilled chicken come to mind, not typically thinking of local fare.

A Malaysian man recently proved that healthy eating does not have to come at the cost of one’s wallet, urging other Malaysians to opt for local ingredients as a sustainable choice.

“You don’t need organic labels, avocado, salmon, or blueberries. Nasi ulam with a whole ikan bakar is healthy.

“Healthy eating isn’t expensive. Being addicted to convenience is,” he said in a viral Threads post.

Netizens also agreed with the man’s opinion, understanding that local options can be the better option, since they would be cheaper and at times, healthier.

“We already have foods that can be easily grown at home and are cheaper as well. An old-school eating lifestyle has actually been healthier for us all along,” a user explained.

“Ayam bakar (grilled chicken), soft-boiled eggs, ulam-ulaman (local herbs), spinach soup, chicken soup, tempeh and tofu — don’t they realise these are already healthy foods? Of course, it depends on how much oil is used, but overall, these foods are healthy,” another suggested.

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 The Sun Malaysia