The big, fat truth about the health risks of Hong Kong street food
Eating too many of your favourite ready-to-eat treats – including curry fish balls, siu mai and rice rolls – is not good for you. Ever think about how many calories they pack?
Like many Hongkongers, I grew up eating street food. These ready-to-eat snacks are part of the city’s food culture, and “sweeping the streets” is a must-do activity for many people to help them pass the time with friends after work and at weekends.
While street food is part of my repertoire, I have learnt to enjoy these guilty pleasures sparingly.
As a registered dietitian, I am well aware of the hidden calories, sodium and fat they pack – and how eating such snacks on a regular basis could have an impact on my long-term health.
Next time you plan to try snacks from different stalls, consider their nutritional value. Eating only a few can equate to – or exceed – the calories found in a regular meal.
If you love eating street food, then you need to know the nutritional value of some of the common choices.
Snacks high in sodium:
Curry fish balls
Curry fish balls rank high among Hong Kong’s most iconic street food. Cooked in a curry sauce and served on a skewer, or in a polystyrene cup or bowl, they are integral to the city’s street-food culture.
A typical serving – about six curry fish balls – contains about 130 calories – the same as one 100-gram (3.5-ounce) bowl of cooked rice.