Regardless of race, language or dietary preference

By Ginnette Ng

GRAPHIC: DIANE LIM

Singaporeans’ first love has always been food. In this melting pot of cultures and cuisines, whether you are craving hot or cold, dry or soupy, sweet, spicy or both, there is always something for everyone.

But this is easier said than done for vegans. More than going meatless, vegans have a stricter plant-based diet that excludes all animal products – eggs, milk, and even honey. While this dietary preference may have originated in the West, veganism is not far from vegetarianism that is practiced by some Hindus and Buddhists here.

Yet, it is still a challenge to find vegan food options in Singapore.

Animal products are commonly used to add flavour into our local dishes, even when they are not the hero of a dish like in bak kut teh or rendang. Rojak may be known as a South East Asian salad but belacan (shrimp paste) is part of the sauce. Similarly, some shops stir-fry vegetables with lard or make roti prata with ghee, instead of using regular oil.

While the rest of us enjoy our hawker culture for its variety, vegans have to think twice before they join the queue.

Another issue is ensuring that vegan options are still nutritious. Asking the uncle at the noodles stall to replace chicken with more kailan is not good enough for your body. Instead, another protein like tofu should also be made an option.  

With these challenges that vegans face, Consider Veganism SG, a Facebook page of 2,800 strong, shares tips, hosts events and recommends vegan-friendly restaurants to encourage the local vegan community. A community-led forum and mobile application, HappyCow, also lists more than 650 vegan-friendly eateries in Singapore.

Instead of heading to the newest cafe, try a vegan restaurant if you want to discover something healthy and delicious. VeganBurg’s Creamy Shrooms burger, my not-so guilty pleasure, is so delicious it constantly surprises me that neither butter nor cheese was used in its preparation. For local favourites, Genesis Vegan Restaurant serves up their version of “chicken” rice, but with tofu skins instead.

While these restaurants may cost a few dollars more, your vegan friend could do with a break from eating the same dishes from that one caifan stall.

Vegans may be a small community in Singapore but they should not be neglected in our food culture. Do not confuse them with the overzealous activists on YouTube, or the health-obsessed dieters out there. In fact, many vegans adopt this lifestyle because of their love for animals and the environment, and because they believe it is right. Much like the dietary preferences of Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Catholics, veganism is linked to a set of beliefs that we should learn to understand and respect.