03-05-2025
Simple, nutritious chicken rice meal kit aims to renew seniors' interest in cooking
To help seniors rekindle their passion for cooking, food services and facilities management company Sodexo, in collaboration with INSEAD and Montfort Care, launched a simple yet nutritious meal kit for the elderly at Goodlife Studio (Bukit Purmei), an Active Ageing Centre by Montfort Care.
At a senior engagement event on April 29, volunteers handed out 120 easy-to-cook chicken rice meal kits to 60 Bukit Purmei residents in attendance.
The meal can be assembled in a rice cooker in about eight minutes, making it easier for seniors to enjoy home-cooked meals without the hassle of clean-ups.
Rather than relying on take-outs that are often high in sugar and salt, this effort aims to promote cooking among seniors and educate them about a balanced diet.
Ms Liew Zi Qi, senior programme executive at Goodlife Studio (Bukit Purmei), noted that many seniors, especially those living alone, choose to eat out as they find it inconvenient to cook for one.
"Eating out is convenient, but if you have it too often, it's really not good for seniors," Ms Liew said.
"This meal kit promotes healthy cooking, and at the same time, improves the convenience of preparing food, especially for seniors with mobility issues who find it challenging to get groceries."
The kit includes frozen marinated chicken, rice, and greens. TNP PHOTO: SEAH JUN DE
Attendee Mr Pang Puay Sum, 56, agreed that seniors should minimise eating take-outs. He shared that he prefers cooking his meals at home as he is health-conscious and wants to regulate his salt and sugar intake.
Another attendee, Madam Tracy Ho, 67, who has cooked for her family for over a decade, has no problems with preparing meals.
For her, the kit isn't about learning to cook, but saving time for things that matter - like family.
"You just have to put it in your rice cooker, and it's done," she said.
SG60: Doing Good Through Food is a pilot initiative under the Servathon programme by Sodexo as part of its efforts to celebrate Singapore's 60th year of independence.
Sodexo plans to roll out more of such events throughout the year, continuing its commitment to improving lives through food, health, and human connection.
In 2024, Sodexo distributed over 3,000 meals to communities across Singapore through Servathon.
While past efforts focused on producing and distributing ready-to-eat meals, this year's Servathon emphasises building connections with the community through meal preparation.
The initiative includes a cooking demonstration of the meal kit by Sodexo chefs, a recipe card with nutritional tips, and interactions with seniors to learn about their cooking habits.
Mr Abel Ariza, managing director at Sodexo Malaysia and Singapore, explained that this year's approach is focused on the quality of interaction with seniors rather than the quantity of meals handed out.
"We're going deeper into the learnings, into what they can take home," Mr Ariza said.
