MIRI: Less sugar, more health! That’s the string message from the Miri Divisional Health Office to local food operators.
The Health Office has stepped up its campaign against unhealthy eating to ensure a healthier lifestyle.
More than 200 food entrepreneurs and operators from eateries, restaurants, cafeterias, and bakeries registered under the Miri City Council took part in the Healthy Catering Training and ‘War on Sugar’ Advocacy Programme held on Monday (Oct 27) at Pustaka Miri Auditorium.
The full-day session focused on three themes — Sugar: The Sweet Dangers, Healthy Eating, and Preparation of Healthy Meals — designed to help food handlers prepare meals that are lower in fat, salt, and sugar but still nutritious and appealing.
Participants were briefed on the risks of excessive sugar consumption, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, and were shown practical ways to cut down sugar in food and drinks.
The training also revisited the ‘Quarter, Quarter, Half’ Healthy Plate Concept, reinforcing the importance of balanced portions and the role of food providers in preventing diet-related illnesses.
Trainers later demonstrated how to plan menus and adapt recipes to offer healthier alternatives without sacrificing taste — part of the Health Office’s push to promote smarter food choices in local kitchens.
The Miri Divisional Health Office said in a statement that the initiative forms part of a wider strategy to empower food handlers as agents of change in public health.
The Healthy Catering Training Series will now extend to food operators under the Subis and Marudi District Councils.
The expansion, done in collaboration with local authorities, aims to ensure that food businesses across northern Sarawak receive up-to-date guidance on healthy meal preparation.
The Health Office stressed that real change requires a collective effort — from policymakers and food operators to consumers themselves.
With rising public awareness and strong institutional backing, Miri’s War on Sugar is fast becoming more than just a campaign — it’s a movement for a healthier, more conscious community.
