Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
Tanoto Foundation is a philanthropic partner supporting research into Asia’s most pressing health challenges. It recognises that Type 2 Diabetes affects a significant number of Singaporeans, especially the younger generation — over 400,000 to be exact. It’s one of the leading causes of death and sounds alarming when 1 in 4 Singaporeans will be affected by this disease by 2050.
I saw first-hand how this condition affected my late grandmother’s daily life. Terrified of needles, she had to summon the courage to inject insulin into her stomach every morning. The terror in her eyes still haunts me, but so does the immense pride I felt seeing her push right past it.
Healthier eating habits are crucial and necessary to not just people with diabetes, but to Singaporeans in general. Small, sustainable lifestyle changes such as the food we consume can vastly improve our health in the long run. Thankfully, Tanoto Foundation has teamed up with National Healthcare Group (NHG) to launch a Diabetes Reversal Programme, taking a more proactive approach to tackling this life-threatening condition.
One of the initiatives was to publish a book called ‘I Can’t Believe It Tastes So Good!’, featuring 100 delicious diabetes-friendly recipes that are not only easy and accessible for the masses, but also backed by NHG experts. With the motto, ‘Choose healthier; keep the flavour’, this book was written to make a statement: healthy cooking methods can still taste good.
They include Breakfast Dishes, One-Pot Meals, Snacks, and even Desserts. With clear, step-by-step instructions, the book also features a dedicated Quick Tips section offering advice on flawless execution and flavor enhancement. The recipes focus on utilising lesser oil, salt and sugar.
Now, I can already guess what thoughts are running through your head: healthy recipes are bland, boring and never taste like the actual dish. Trust me, I’ve had the same reservations!
Well, it was up to MasterChef Singapore season 2 winner, Derek Cheong, to prove us wrong.
He conducted a cooking class for a group of 48 aunties and uncles at Toa Payoh West Community Centre across 2 sessions, guiding them through 2 featured recipes from the book — Chicken Curry and Fruit Chaat.
We watched as the cheerful aunties and uncles split into groups of 3, eagerly following Chef Derek’s instructions and having a blast along the way. If they could breeze through the lesson, I’m sure you’ll have no trouble getting the hang of it, too!
Trust me, the culinary studio was filled with the irresistible aroma of curry spices, and my stomach couldn’t stop rumbling. In the end, the session was a success, with Chef Derek pleased by both the overall experience and, most importantly, the taste of the 2 dishes.
To further test the theory on whether healthier recipes do indeed taste better, we bought a regular chicken curry from a local kopitiam and compared it against the healthier recipe. And guess what? More than half of us actually preferred the healthier version. HOW WAS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE? I was genuinely impressed!
The spices in the healthier chicken curry had more layers of flavour and depth, as compared to the coffeeshop’s version which was rather one-dimensional and had no character.
Well, Tanoto Foundation’s recipe book proved a point — healthy cooking methods can still taste great. If we can adopt healthier recipes in our diet while still retaining all that delicious flavour, I don’t see why this book can’t be placed in every kitchen.
To download the book online, click here.
Since World Diabetes Day is falling on 14 Nov 2026, let us all play a part in taking care of ourselves and adopt better eating habits to reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
*This post is brought to you in partnership with Tanoto Foundation.
People also read:
