KUALA LUMPUR: Is rice fattening and unhealthy?
Consultant dietitian Indra Balaratnam disagrees.
She said there was no need to avoid rice as there is no one single food solely responsible for making people fat.
"You gain weight by eating more than what your body needs. Eat good carbohydrates like brown or unpolished rice in sensible portions, and limit your intake ofrefined carbohydrates like cakes, pastries and sweetened drinks," she said at the launch of this years's Rice Day 2018 roadshow themed" No Rice, No Life" .
Organised for the second year running by Jasmine Food Corporation and Tefal Malaysia,The Rice Day aims to create awareness and educate the public on the benefits of rice, as well as dispel common misconceptions that rice is unhealthy and can lead to health problems like weight gain and diabetes.
The event was supported by Diabetes Malaysia, Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) and Padiberas Nasional Berhad (BERNAS).
To keep trim, Balaratnam recommended keeping an eye on the food portions you are consuming at meals, and to increase the daily intake of whole grains in your daily diet.
"Follow this Golden rule for an ideal meal: ½ plate of vegetables or fruit, ¼ plate of rice or grains, ¼ plate of protein (meat, eggs, legumes). Next, increase your wholegrain intake. At least half of your daily grain intake should be in the form of whole grains (like unpolished rice), which contain huge amounts of nutrients,minerals and vitamins that our bodies need," she added.
Besides Balaratnam, Celebrity chef and Jasmine ambassador Datuk Jaafar Onn, KDU University College Chef Fami Taufeq and Chef Ili Sulaiman were present at the event to show participants how to prepare and present rice at home in more exciting, health-conscious ways via live cooking demonstrations.