Hehe… No, it’s not that kind of CSI! Calorie Stats Investigation.
By now you mesti tahu about something called Menu Rahmah, kan? Kalau tak, meh kita refresh sikit.
Menu Rahmah sebenarnya is an initiative introduced by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living on 31 January 2023, where participating eateries can voluntarily provide lunch or dinner packages for a set low cost of RM 5 atau pun lagi rendah! Dan as of mid-March, more than 1,500 dining establishments have already signed up to take part in the campaign across the country. Wow, what a positive response, kan?
Tapi mesti you fikir such a provision is specifically aimed at the poorest of the poor and those from the low-income population (B40) kan? Sebenarnya semua orang, regardless of their respective financial capability, is more than welcome to try it.
Hmm… but how healthy are the meals, you’re wondering?
Jangan risau! It’s only normal to wonder about its nutrient values because aside from the affordable prices, we do want to make sure what we’re eating is healthy… tak pun boleh keep us full until the next meal lah kan.
So, sebab tu lah hari ni kita akan tengok four different menus from four well-known business outlets and determine if they are good enough to help us fulfil our daily calorie requirement.
And just FYI, the 2010 Malaysian Dietary Guidelines state that adults aged between 18 to 59 years old who lead inactive lifestyles should consume 2,000 kcal (for the dudes) or 1,500 kcal (for the ladies) every day. Untuk kita find out the nutritional value of each menu, we’ll be relying on the comprehensive list provided by the Ministry of Health (KKM).
So, are you ready to do some calorie autopsy? Let’s go!
Mydin
This hypermarket chain with its iconic blue-and-yellow branding (sorry, Ikea) offers different sets of Menu Rahmah every day for just RM 4.90. Each set includes white rice and drinking water, while the main dish alternates between chicken and fish. For our calculation, we’ll be choosing the ayam masak kicap.
- White rice (1 scoop | 76 g) = 100 kcal
- Soy sauce chicken (1 serving | 95 g) = 215 kcal
- Stir-fry long bean (1 scoop | 60 g) = 40 kcal
- Plain water (250 ml) = 0 kcal
TOTAL = 355 kcal
AEON BiG
Similar to Mydin, you can find distinctive meals each day at various (if not all) AEON BiG outlets (you know, the one with the bright orange signage – bukan yang merah ok). At a price of only RM 4.95, every set comes with mineral water and white rice. While you may find chicken dishes most days, there are also stir-fry squids with turmeric as well (fuhh, sedap!). Because of that, we’re gonna judge the squid game. Eh, we mean, set.
- White rice (1 scoop | 76 g) = 100 kcal
- Stir-fry squid with turmeric (1 scoop | 60 g) = 75 kcal
- Mixed vegetable (1 scoop | 40 g) = 33 kcal
- Shrimp paste with chilli (1 teaspoon | 10 g) = 12 kcal
- Plain water (250 ml) = 0 kcal
TOTAL = 220 kcal
OldTown White Coffee
If you feel a bit fancy (at heart lah, not with your expenses), then just visit one of the many OTWC restaurants nearby. The Menu Rahmah that they provide is between RM 4.50 and RM 5 per set. Why did we mention ‘fancy’? Because each meal is served with a lime drink, geng! This time, we’ll take a look at the set with chicken sausage.
- Nasi lemak (1 plate | 230 g) = 389 kcal
- Fried anchovies with peanuts (1 serving | 64 g) = 301 kcal
- Hard-boiled egg (1 piece | 50 g) = 80 kcal
- Cucumber (1 cup | 135 g) = 15 kcal
- Sauteed chilli (1 tablespoon | 20 g) = 37 kcal
- Chicken sausage (1 piece | 33 g) = 107 kcal
- Lime drink (250 ml) = 31 kcal
TOTAL = 960 kcal
Burger King
If you think buying burger tepi jalan has been quite a hassle, then pergi je mana mana Burger King outlet. Every Menu Rahmah combo will cost you RM 5. You’ll get a mineral drink, together with either a cheeseburger with beef or a crispy chicken burger. It’s our turn to examine the calorie count for the beef burger combo.
- Cheeseburger with beef (187 g) = 440 kcal
- Plain water (250 ml) = 0 kcal
TOTAL = 440 kcal
As you can see, most of the meals can be deemed low-calorie since they contain less than 500 kcal. Still, we can consider them filling because each of them consists of various food groups. Hopefully, all of this information boleh tolong you buat decision on which meals best suit your needs and situation.
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Disclaimer: Our content is strictly for educational and informational purposes only. Healthlah.com does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
