PEOPLE GOING ON HEALTHY DIET
They are picking wholesome food to cope with haze, say hawkers
PEOPLE are opting for a healthier diet following the hazy weather. In the heart of the city, lunch hour is still crowded with people buying homecooked meals — the menu consisting of economy rice, a variety of kuih and drinks sold from food trucks parked nearby several office blocks.
At Jalan Mayang Sari, 50-year-old hawker Juliana Ahmad said her customers had been buying more vegetable side dishes to accompany the usual chicken and beef in their packs of rice.
“I realise that they (customers) have started requesting for more vegetable dishes. So that is what I have been offering.
“I understand they must want something more nutritious during the dry weather.”
The trend is similar for beverages, where orange juice, coconut water and herbal tea, apart from mineral water, are in demand.
Nur Samira Abidi Aziz, 25, who sells fruit juice at Central Market, said her customers, who were mostly tourists, prefer to buy citrus drinks to stay hydrated.
“Since the haze, people tend to choose ‘sour’ or citrusy fruit juices because apparently (Education Minister Dr) Maszlee Malik said it could help soothe sore throats.”
Seah Wai Yee, 52, who sells herbal tea and soya milk, said such drinks were refreshing and could help alleviate “heatiness”. “People tend to order what is good for them such as herbal tea with seven types of traditional herbs, or honey lemon tea, which is to cool down your body temperature.”
Notwithstanding the increased demand for healthier picks, the hawkers have seen a drop in customers whom they believe were discouraged by the haze.
“Fewer people are coming to my stall. This might be due to the haze,” Seah said.
Juliana said regular customers now asked their colleagues to help buy food on their behalf to avoid the haze.
“The haze has probably deterred customers from going outdoors.
“I am selling fewer rice packs now compared with before (the haze).
“Some of my customers might have respiratory problems or even allergies, which explain why they asked their friends to pack the rice for them.
“But this is nothing compared with the previous haze crisis in 2015, when I had to close shop for three days,” she said.
Hawker Yuli Susanti Mohd Nasir, 31, who sells snacks and pre-cut fruits, said fewer people were stopping at her stall.
“There are fewer customers now. They will usually crowd my stall between 1pm and 2pm for snacks.
“It could be because of the haze. But if I can’t make my business here, I will bring over the fruits to my other stall near the Kuala Lumpur branch campus of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.”