As Chinese New Year swings around again, thoughts of red packets and festive feasting are likely to be on your mind—but hopefully not on your waistline this January. While many of us look forward to indulging in our favourite snacks and treats as an annual extravagance, those of us with loved ones with health conditions will know that it’s tough to make sure they still enjoy their Chinese New Year while keeping watch on their health. Here at Homage, we’ve curated a list of 15 Chinese New Year snacks that are tailored to your loved ones’ health conditions.
Read on to find out and snack more!
For Diabetics
Diabetes is a health condition that shouldn’t be ignored even during festive occasions. Snacks suitable for diabetes include those with less sugar and those made from sugar alternatives and whole-grain flour.
Here are some delicious healthy options:
1. Kueh Bangkit
Source: Royal Bakery
Usually made from tapioca flour, eggs, Pandan leaves, coconut milk and sugar, Kueh Bangkit is a melt-in-your-mouth fan favourite at Chinese New Year gatherings. The great thing about Kueh Bangkit is that each piece usually contains less than one gram of sugar together with the rest of the natural ingredients, making it a great low-sugar option for diabetics in moderation.
Check out Royal Bakery’s Kueh Bangkit:
Price range: $16.39
Address: N/A – online sales only
Opening Hours: N/A
Contact number: 8882 2637
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2. ‘No Pineapple’ Pineapple Tarts from Seriously Keto
Source: Seriously Keto
Usually a sinful sugary treat, pineapple tarts aren’t typically the best snack to have for a diabetic. But what about a pineapple tart…with no pineapple? That may sound a little strange but there’s no harm in trying out Seriously Keto’s ‘no pineapple’ pineapple tart! Made with a delicious jammy filling using winter melon instead of pineapple, these low-sugar ‘pineapple’ tarts can still satisfy your cravings even if you’re diabetic.
Check those tarts out here:
Price range: $18.80
Address: N/A – online sales only
Opening Hours: N/A
Contact number: 9838 4047
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3. Sugar-free Chicken Bak Kwa from Ange Bakes
Source: Ange Bakes
Another CNY must-have, celebrating CNY without Bak Kwa just doesn’t feel right. Diabetics, however, will often find themselves having to avoid the high-sugar treat during the festive season. Ange Bakes’ sugar-free chicken Bak Kwa gets rid of this problem, by offering a healthy alternative suitable for diabetics.
Check them out here:
Price range: $62.00
Address: 1 Coleman Street, #B1-07, The Adelphi, 179803
Opening Hours: 11am-5pm
Contact number: 84880891
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4. Sugar-free Vegan Peanut ‘Butter’ Cookies from LOCABA
Source: LOCABA
Full of luscious peanut flavour, vegan and best of all, sugar-free! LOCABA’s No Sugar Vegan Peanut “Butter” Cookies might just be one of the best Chinese New Year snacks for your loved ones to indulge in, even if they have diabetes.
Check them out here:
Price range: $33.00 for 1 box
Address: 2 Kallang Ave, #01-08/13 CT HUB, Singapore 3394073
Opening Hours: 9.30am-6pm
Contact number: 9793 6557
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4. Melting White Almond Cookies from Delcie’s Desserts and Cakes
Source: Delcie’s Desserts and Cakes
Almond cookies are yet another typically high-sugar treat that we crave during Chinese New Year. Yet for diabetics the high sugar content of almond cookies makes it hard to indulge in peace without health worries. As an alternative, you can consider Delcies’ Melting White Almond Cookies which are made with reduced sugar.
Check them out here:
Price range: $32.80
Address: 34 Whampoa W, #01-83, Singapore 330034
Opening Hours: 11am-8pm
Contact number: 6282 2951
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For High Blood Pressure
If you have high blood pressure, you should opt for snacks with low salt and sodium, made with less oil, or those made from whole-grain flour. Here are some options:
1. Healthy Veggie Chips
Source: Hey Chips
Vegetables aren’t always everyone’s favourite but when they’re made into crunchy chips, they can suddenly be a hot commodity especially during Chinese New Year. For those with high blood pressure, vegetable chips are a great option, especially if they’re made with health in mind. Hey! Chips’ wide range of vegetable chips including broccoli, onion and corn, are vacuum-fried and have no added sugar or seasoning, making it perfect for those with high blood pressure!
Check them out here:
Price range: $4.95
Address: 107 Eunos Ave 3, #06-02 Storefriendly Centre, Singapore 409837
Opening Hours: 9.30am-6pm
Contact number: 8894 2476
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2. Vegan Flourless Black Sesame Cookies
Source: The Clean Addicts
The Clean Addicts’ Vegan Flourless Black Sesame Cookies are another great CNY snack option for those with high blood pressure. Soft, buttery, and flavourful, these cookies are hand-made without added sodium and contain no preservatives, artificial flavourings or colourings. Try to save some for your loved ones!
Check them out here:
Price range: $35.90
Address: NA – online sales only
Opening Hours: NA
Contact number: NA
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3. Nuts and Seed Crisps by Delcie’s Desserts and Cakes
Source: Delcie’s Desserts and Cakes
These gluten-free Nut and Seed Crisps are another popular option for a good and tasty low-sodium snack. Made with hand-roasted macadamia nuts, almonds, pistachio, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds, these nuts and seed crisps could very well drive your guests nuts, in a healthy way of course!
Check them out here:
Price range: $32.80
Address: 34 Whampoa W, #01-83, Singapore 330034
Opening Hours: 11am-8pm
Contact number: 6282 2951
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4. Banana Chips
Banana chips may be an unconventional CNY snack choice, but their taste might just be phenomenal. Containing no sodium at all, Garden Picks’ banana chips can be a quickly-addictive addition to your CNY pantry that’s also perfect for those high blood pressure.
Check them out here:
Price range: $3.80–$8.50
Address: 8B Admiralty Street Singapore 757440
Opening Hours: 9am–5pm
Contact number: 6659 4859
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5. Apricot Crunch Cookies
Source: Bakening
Bakening’s Apricot Crunch Cookies are also suitable for those with high blood pressure to indulge. Made with real nuts and low in sodium, these crunch cookies can be a novel addition for CNY gatherings.
Check them out here:
Price range: $4.90
Address: 131 Joo Chiat Road, #01-01, Singapore 427416 (self-collection on Mon, Wed, Sun)
Opening Hours: Afternoon (12pm – 3pm) or Evening (5pm – 8pm) for self-collection
Contact number: 8750 4421 (WhatsApp only)
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For High Cholesterol
Those with high cholesterol should of course be avoiding foods that have saturated and trans fat such as cocoa butter, animal fat and full-cream dairy. They should also eat snacks that are made from whole-grain flour instead of regular white flour where possible. These restrictions may seem to make CNY joyless at first glance, but that doesn’t have to be the case!
Here are some fun snack options to spice up your Chinese New Year healthily:
1. Cashew Cookies by Seriously Keto
Source: Seriously Keto
A staple of Chinese New Year festivities, cookies are often taboo for those with high cholesterol due to the high amount of fat content. Seriously Keto’s Cashew Cookies, however, changes the game. Low in fat, keto-compliant and crumbly in the mouth, these cookies are suitable for high-cholesterol individuals and can make your Chinese New Year a whole lot healthier.
Check them out here:
Price range: $12.80
Address: N/A – online sales only
Opening Hours: N/A
Contact number: 9838 4047
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2. Walnut Crunch by Bakening
Commonly known as a brain food, walnuts don’t often appear at the top of CNY snack lists. That shouldn’t stop you from taking a chance on them though! Bakening’s light, addictive, and low fat Walnut Crunch contains no refined sugar, making it a good CNY snack option for those with high cholesterol!
Check them out here:
Price range: $4.90
Address: 131 Joo Chiat Road, #01-01, Singapore 427416 (self-collection available on Mon, Wed, Sun)
Opening Hours: Afternoon (12pm–3pm) or Evening (5pm–8pm) for self-collection
Contact number: 8750 4421 (whatsapp only)
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3. Raw Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds are typically roasted with butter and other additives, which increases their cholesterol content. The Whole Kitchen, however, offers Raw Sunflower Seeds that can be snacked on without any guilt at all or worry about cholesterol.
Check them out here:
Price range: $3.95
Address:
- 11 East Coast Road, The Odeon Building, #01-16, 428722 (East Coast Bakery Cafe)
- 120 Robinson Road, #01-01, 06891 (CBD Bakery Cafe)
Opening Hours: 7:30am-6:00pm
Contact number: 6513 2314
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4. Dried Cuttlefish
Source: Umeya
A delicious savoury snack, Dried Cuttlefish is a popular snack on its own and deserves to make it onto your CNY snack list for its low-fat content. For a health-focused option, you should consider Umeya’s Top Grade Hokkaido Roasted Cuttlefish, which is plain flavoured as compared to their other offerings.
Check them out here:
Price range: $13.80
Address:
- Takashimaya Shopping Centre, outside Cold Storage
- Tiong Bahru Plaza, #03-K02
- Jurong Point, #03-114 (along the Hong Kong Mongkok Street)
- Bugis Plus, #02-22 (connecting bridge between Bugis and Bugis Plus)
Opening Hours: 11 am–10 pm
Contact number: 6848 2088
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5. Dried Fruits
Naturally low in fat, dried fruits can be a very pleasant addition to your CNY snack platter, especially for those with high cholesterol. Nuts And Snacks offer a wide range of dried fruits including figs, cranberries, and mulberries. Mix and match different dried fruits or try out some dried fruits that are new to you this Chinese New Year and make it healthy to boot!
Check them out here:
Price range: $7-$20.27
Address: NA – online sales only
Opening Hours: NA
Contact number: 8932 5764
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We hope that this guide has been useful in introducing healthier Chinese New Year snacks for you this year.
If you need help with caring for a loved one over the festive season, Homage’s Care Pros can help — from taking care of their personal needs to planning out a variety of activities like making goodies, arts and craft, or even going out on walks and for light exercises. Have peace of mind with an experienced caregiver to help you out while creating moments with loved ones that you’ll always hold close to your heart.
Reach out to us at 6100 0055 for a free care consult to learn more about how we can support you and your loved ones.
With this, the team at Homage wishes everyone a Happy Lunar New Year and nothing but the best of health for everyone!
