More protein, less sugar: 500 seniors to learn tips for healthy eating in pilot programme

Seniors participating in the Stay Strong programme on Sept 28.

ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Published Sep 28, 2026, 01:00 PM

Updated Sep 28, 2026, 01:00 PM

The Stay Strong programme helps seniors learn healthy eating through gamification and storytelling.

Starting with 500 seniors in November, the programme will expand islandwide by 2027, aiming to reach 10,000 seniors by 2030, promoting mindful and affordable healthy food choices.

Developed from a 2025 study, the programme addresses seniors' nutritional challenges and uses engaging activities and resources to encourage balanced meals and healthier lifelong habits.

SINGAPORE - Add protein and calcium to meals, swap to wholegrain carbohydrate options, and reduce foods that are high in sodium, sugar and saturated fats.

Homemaker Rosna Abdul Rahman, 70, learnt these tips on Sept 28 at the NTUC Health Active Ageing Centre (Care) in Bedok North during a newly launched nutrition programme.

She is among 500 seniors from NTUC Health’s 27 Active Ageing Centres (AACs) that will participate in a pilot run of the Stay Strong programme, which uses gamification and creative storytelling to make healthy eating relatable, practical and actionable.

After the initial run in November, the programme will be rolled out to other AAC networks islandwide in 2027, with the aim of reaching 10,000 seniors by 2030.

“This programme gives me more in-depth knowledge about nutrition,” Rosna said. “It is also fun learning with friends at the AAC, and we can remind each other to follow the health tips.”

Rosna Abdul Rahman, 70 (seated, second from left) participating in the Stay Strong programme on Sept 28. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Rosna Abdul Rahman, 70 (seated, second from left) participating in the Stay Strong programme on Sept 28.

The programme was launched by FairPrice Foundation (FPF) with Tan Tock Seng Hospital and NTUC Health .

Through two sessions, seniors will learn about key nutritional priorities, including increasing daily intake of protein- and calcium-rich foods. They will also learn how to prevent common ageing-related conditions such as osteoporosis, falls and sarcopenia, or the loss of muscle mass and strength.

In addition, seniors can learn to identify healthier options when grocery shopping, including understanding the Healthier Choice logo and choosing low-sodium, low-sugar, wholegrain and low glycemic index alternatives.

The programme features a story with Ah Bao, a fictional Kopitiam uncle played by local actor Sugie Phua, who runs the Stay Strong economy rice stall. Through videos , Ah Bao introduces common food and nutrition dilemmas, questions and scenarios.

Food sampling elements, curated in partnership with NTUC Foodfare, help seniors learn how they can adapt and improve the nutritional value of their daily meals.

Seniors will be given resources that they can take home to apply what they have learnt and cultivate healthier habits in their daily lives. These include a “Healthy Da Bao Box” container, designed around the Health Promotion Board’s (HPB) Healthy Plate to guide seniors on the key food groups and proportions to consume, including when ordering takeaways.

They will also receive a 14-Day Stay Strong Challenge healthy habit tracker to encourage continued practice of the programme’s key catchphrase of “Add, Swap, Reduce” to make every meal healthier.

The new programme was shaped by insights from a Stay Strong study conducted by FairPrice Foundation, the philanthropic arm of FairPrice Group, in 2025 to understand the nutritional challenges faced by seniors.

The study, which surveyed over 500 seniors and i nterviewed them and their caregivers, found that while 86 per cent of seniors recognised the need to eat more nutritiously as they age, more than half could not correctly identify what makes up a healthy plate.

My Healthy Plate by HPB recommends filling a quarter of the plate with whole grains, a quarter with meat and other proteins, and half the plate with fruit and vegetables for a balanced diet.

Fried rice cooked during the healthy cooking demonstration. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Fried rice cooked during the healthy cooking demonstration.

It also found that while over 80 per cent of seniors surveyed aspire to eat healthily, there remains a clear head and stomach disconnect at mealtimes. Seniors rank taste as the top priority, while cost and nutrition are tied at fourth place.

Retired project supervisor Tan Kien Soon, 73, said he is more aware of the Healthy Plate after going through the programme at the launch.

“I tend to finish whatever is left over so as not to waste food, but I’m now more mindful of the portions of different food I should take.”

Tan Kien Soon, 73 (seated, second from left) participating in a activity at the Stay Strong programme on Sept 28. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Tan Kien Soon, 73 (seated, second from left) participating in a activity at the Stay Strong programme on Sept 28.

Chin Soo Fang is senior correspondent at The Straits Times, covering a wide range of topics including community, politics, social issues, consumer, culture and heritage.

9月28日，老年人参加了“保持坚强”计划。

《海峡时报》照片：梁崇俊

发布于2026年9月28日下午1点

更新于2026年9月28日下午1点

“保持强壮”计划通过游戏化和故事讲述的方式帮助老年人学习健康饮食。

该计划于 11 月启动，首先惠及 500 位老年人，到 2027 年将在全岛范围内推广，目标是到 2030 年惠及 10,000 位老年人，旨在推广有意识且价格合理的健康食品选择。

该计划源于一项 2025 年的研究，旨在解决老年人的营养挑战，并利用各种有趣的活动和资源来鼓励均衡膳食和更健康的终身习惯。

新加坡——在膳食中添加蛋白质和钙，换用全谷物碳水化合物，并减少高钠、高糖和高饱和脂肪的食物。

70岁的家庭主妇罗斯娜·阿卜杜勒·拉赫曼于9月28日在勿洛北的NTUC健康活力老龄中心（Care）参加了一项新推出的营养计划，并学习了这些技巧。

她是来自 NTUC Health 旗下 27 个活跃老龄化中心 (AAC) 的 500 名老年人之一，他们将参与 Stay Strong 计划的试点运行。该计划利用游戏化和创意故事讲述，使健康饮食变得易于理解、切实可行。

该计划在 11 月首次试行后，将于 2027 年推广到全岛其他 AAC 网络，目标是到 2030 年惠及 10,000 名老年人。

“这个项目让我对营养有了更深入的了解，”罗丝娜说。“和AAC的朋友们一起学习也很有趣，我们还可以互相提醒要遵循健康小贴士。”

70岁的罗斯娜·阿卜杜勒·拉赫曼（Rosna Abdul Rahman，图中左二，坐着）于9月28日参加了“保持坚强”活动。（海峡时报摄影：梁崇俊）

70 岁的 Rosna Abdul Rahman（坐着，左起第二个）于 9 月 28 日参加了 Stay Strong 计划。

该计划由职总平价基金会（FPF）联合陈笃生医院和职总保健集团共同发起。

通过两节课程，老年人将学习重要的营养知识，包括增加每日蛋白质和钙质摄入量。他们还将学习如何预防常见的与衰老相关的疾病，例如骨质疏松症、跌倒和肌肉减少症（肌肉量和力量的流失）。

此外，老年人还可以学习在购买食品杂货时识别更健康的选择，包括了解“健康之选”标志，并选择低钠、低糖、全谷物和低血糖指数的替代品。

该节目以虚构的咖啡店老板阿宝（由本地演员苏吉·普阿饰演）为主角，讲述了他经营“Stay Strong”经济米饭摊位的故事。阿宝通过视频介绍常见的食品和营养难题、问题和场景。

食品试吃活动由NTUC Foodfare合作策划，旨在帮助老年人学习如何调整和改善日常膳食的营养价值。

长者将获得一些资源，可以带回家中运用所学知识，并在日常生活中培养更健康的生活习惯。这些资源包括一个“健康大包盒”，该盒子是根据新加坡健康促进局（HPB）的“健康餐盘”设计的，旨在指导长者了解主要食物类别及其摄入比例，包括在点外卖时。

他们还将收到一份为期 14 天的“保持强壮挑战”健康习惯追踪器，以鼓励他们继续实践该计划的关键口号“添加、替换、减少”，使每一餐都更健康。

新计划的制定借鉴了 FairPrice 集团旗下慈善机构 FairPrice 基金会于 2025 年开展的“保持坚强”研究的见解，该研究旨在了解老年人面临的营养挑战。

这项研究调查了 500 多名老年人，并采访了他们及其护理人员。研究发现，虽然 86% 的老年人认识到随着年龄增长需要吃得更有营养，但超过一半的老年人无法正确识别健康餐盘的组成。

新加坡保健促进局 (HPB) 的“我的健康餐盘”建议，为了均衡饮食，餐盘的四分之一应盛放全谷物，四分之一应盛放肉类和其他蛋白质，一半应盛放水果和蔬菜。

在健康烹饪示范活动中烹制的炒饭。照片由梁崇俊拍摄。

在健康烹饪示范环节中烹制的炒饭。

调查还发现，虽然超过80%的受访老年人渴望健康饮食，但他们在用餐时仍然存在理智与胃部不适的矛盾。老年人将口味放在首位，而成本和营养并列第四。

73岁的退休项目主管陈建顺表示，在参加启动仪式后，他对“健康餐盘”有了更深入的了解。

“我以前习惯把剩下的食物都吃完，以免浪费，但我现在更注意不同食物的份量了。”

73岁的陈建顺（图中左二，坐着）于9月28日参加“保持坚强”计划活动。海峡时报摄影：庄俊良

73岁的陈建顺（坐着，左起第二个）于9月28日参加了“保持坚强”计划的活动。

陈素芳是《海峡时报》的资深记者，报道范围广泛，包括社区、政治、社会问题、消费、文化和遗产等话题。