$6.50 for “small” vegetarian bee hoon? Netizens react to rising vegetarian food prices

Is economic vegetarian food economically friendly, or is it more expensive than it should be?

On Jan 29, a netizen took to Stomp to complain about an order of vegetarian food he bought for S$6.50 from a coffee shop at 629 Queen Street. The man, who identified himself as Ang, had received a “small portion” of bee hoon with curry vegetables and mock duck meat at the price.

He found the high price preposterous, and contrary to his belief that vegetarian food should be affordable.

“The vegetarian spirit and food is supposed to… help less fortunate people to fill their hunger. Instead, this stall has taken people’s kindness for granted and made such high profits from Singapore citizens by charging sky-high prices,” he commented.

While S$6.50 isn’t the highest price one can pay in general, for a vegetarian dish, it’s considered more expensive than a dish with meat. This is because most vegetables are cheaper ingredients than meat, and hence should cost less, according to Ang.

The practice of economic vegetarianism is one where consumers choose to be vegetarian as meat is more expensive than non-meat items. It’s done not because they are against the consumption of meat, but simply because it’s a more economically sustainable means of nutrition for them.

Typically, a affordable hawker vegetarian meal would cost around S$2.50 to S$4. A plate would consist of mainly vegetables, rice or noodles and possibly a plant-based meat alternative such as tofu or soy mock meat. Many hawkers still provide vegetarian dishes that fall within this price range.

It is worth noting that the prices of meals have increased over the past few years due to inflation and the GST hike. Even while considering this, many vegetarian eateries, including hawkers, price their dishes at S$4.50 and above, on par with or even more than many meat dishes.

Would you say that this is fair, or that economic vegetarian food these days has gotten too expensive?

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