Cooking for a cause: foodpanda launches Pau-Pau Breakfast Club to tackle food insecurity

foodpanda Singapore launched on Saturday (October 7) a new initiative called Pau-Pau Breakfast Club, which aims to tackle food insecurity and promote healthier eating.

The event was organised in partnership with the Nee Soon East Grassroots Organisations (GROs) and Singapore Red Cross Young Hearts’ programme, which consisted of a cook-along workshop and a food distribution drive.

The cook-along workshop was held and led by nutritionist Charlotte Mei, who shared the importance of having nutritious and healthy meals that can be achieved without breaking the bank.

Around 30 residents from the Nee Soon East area participated in the workshop, including young families, couples, and the elderly. During the workshop, participants received valuable tips on obtaining affordable and nutritious ingredients for healthy meals. They also had the opportunity to debunk common misconceptions that people often encounter when planning their meals.

Participants also actively engaged in a cooking segment where they prepared breakfast wraps using readily available supermarket ingredients. This meal was not only healthy and easily customisable, but also a hassle-free option. In a bid to minimise food waste, residents were encouraged to take any leftover ingredients home with them.

Fighting food insecurity in Singapore

According to the 2020 Hunger report by The Food Bank, one in 10 Singaporeans experienced food insecurity at least once every 12 months and often does not receive enough support.

In addition to the challenge of acquiring sufficient food, some of these households are given food that does not align with their specific needs, resulting in both food wastage and unhealthy eating habits.

Collaborating with over 50 volunteers and foodpanda delivery partners, a total of 200 food packs were distributed to elderly and low-income residents residing in the Nee Soon East area. Distinguishing itself from typical food drives, this initiative allowed residents to select their preferred food packs, which included a combination of fresh produce and pantry staples.

Lawrence Wen, CEO of foodpanda Singapore, expressed his unwavering commitment to addressing this issue. He emphasised that given foodpanda’s focus on food and groceries, he strongly believes that everyone should have access to fresh, nutritious food tailored to their taste preferences.

Through pau-pau breakfast club, we hope to respect individual preferences, tackle food insecurity in how our residents would have healthier choice, [and] provide them with quality, fresh groceries in bulk.

Featured Image Credit: foodpanda Singapore