I buy big bulk groceries every month. The big buys would be the carbs, protein and snacks. I would occasionally run to the Family Store to replenish my fruits, vegetables and bread. Even then, the bill still totals at least RM100 on those small runs. This is minus the toothpaste, shower foams, laundry detergents or dishwashing soap.

Lately, there has been a lot of bad press about politicians trying to undermine the severity of inflation towards the price of food. Although I am fortunate that I can still afford to have food on my table – I still feel that the comments they make are very insensitive towards people who are struggling and trying to provide for themselves and their families.

There was a viral tiktok video circulating about YB Fuziah Salleh buying her groceries for less than RM200 and kind of dissing people who said they need to spend more for their household. Although she tried to defend herself saying that it was an old video, it was still a bad video on her part. She shouldn’t even consider creating such content in the first place. I mean, what is she trying to prove? Eating one piece of chicken at a time to last over the whole month. That the ‘poor’ tak boleh makan sedap sikit? Mesti confine themselves to yang basic sahaja? The choice of food the B40 and M40 can make – is already hard enough with the income they earn. Why diss them?

Things are becoming worse nowadays due to the fact that the price of beras is higher. I buy the beras for my home. So far I still have half of the Tupperware container left – so I haven’t actually bought new beras with the current price. But I still empathize with other people who are struggling to buy our local produced rice – which seems to have limited supply nowadays. Macam.. sampai macam ni ke kar-tel nak buat perangai? Simpan stock? Corruption celah mana plak ni?

Healthy choices cost more?

In Malaysia, we have this food pyramid that is promoting the public to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diet. Although we have a lot of easily available tropical fruits in the country – it is somehow viewed as the less important part of their diet. That it is just a dessert or a garnish to the main dish.

If say I buy a meal at Nandos. The quarter chicken is the main dish and the rice, pasta, vege and fruit salad are described as side dishes. This is something I noticed when Westerners (on Instagram) describe their meals. Honestly, it is fine. It helps you to understand why some people can make good food choices. Having said that, to take rice as the main dish is also fine. Nowadays, people are very interested in the Korean food culture and a good example we can take from them is that – the rice comes in a small bowl and they have lots of side dishes that come with it. It seems that they have lots of vegetables on board, fermented or steamed. Of course, they also love their beef and chicken alongside their alcohol.

During my grocery run, the staple vegetables are lettuce, mushrooms, pak choy, mini cucumber and carrots. This is a must for every trip. However, I will alternate the other vegetables. For example, in one week I would have brinjals, broccoli, capsicum and spinach. And then on another trip I might have cauliflower, lady’s fingers, sweet peas and long beans. Something like that.

For fruits, I will almost always have seedless grapes but of a particular brand. There was Shining Muscat the other week but I have yet to see another appearance recently. Strawberries are a must even though it is a small packet because my daughter loves them. Also bananas. I would get Kiwi and blueberries too if they are on sale. Watermelons are picked up occasionally together with dragon fruit and apples. The family would not eat them unless the fruits were sliced up properly. When the mangoes are in season, I will get them too.

I drink a lot of milk as well. As in me as a grown-up. My kids have them in their cereal. I take them with coffee or just like that. So I would definitely get the big Farm Fresh milk bottle on my trips and buy the carton ones from other brands to drink because the fresh milk will run out before my next grocery trip.

I rarely get carbonated drinks but I do get yoghurt drinks or fruit juices. In this home, I try to encourage my children to have plain water most of the time. I’d be getting them cute tumblers or cups for them to have their drinks.

So, do healthy food choices cost more? It depends on how many mouths you need to feed given the money you have. It is cheaper and more fulfilling to have more rice on board if say the family is only eating one main meal a day. Therefore, they would think twice about spending their money on fruits and vegetables that could be used for other food choices instead.

To me, it still contributes to the cost of the grocery run. It would be great to see more Malaysian families consume their fruit and vegetables wholeheartedly like they have their carbs. Tapi tuhlah – bab beras pun tak settle lagi.