Huat’s on my plate: Waste not, want not with Kate Pang

Kate Pang and Andie Chen’s self-managed video channel for young parents, Kandie Network, in which mummy Kate will share easy-peasy DIY (do-it-yourself) recipes for babies and toddlers and cost and time-efficient cooking tips based on her own experiences in the kitchen.

Kate’s love affair with cooking began long ago -- way before she even left Taiwan for Singapore to join show business and become a TV actress in 2010. When she was still a student, we learned from Kate that she’d visit the nearby market on a daily basis to pick up fresh produce for her daily meals.

And when she moved back to Taiwan in late 2013 with her husband, Kate continued with her daily morning routine which consisted of visiting the market downstairs with a grocery basket in arm. Although it’s impossible to upkeep this habit in Singapore (unless you’re “super hardworking”), the expectant mother shared that she makes multiple trips to the supermarket on a weekly basis as she prefers to buy her groceries in small quantities to ensure freshness instead of buying in bulk.

2016 Star Awards Best Programme Host nominee still remembers ending a phone call with her granny in tears, during her first year of work, when she had to skip their reunion dinner at home. “She said that it was the first time since young that I’d not be eating with her and it dawned on me that what’s really important to her (having reunion dinner together) seemed insignificant to me. It was heartbreaking.”

an estimated $14,256 on food on a yearly basis as families tend to buy more than needed to ensure there’s enough food at home.

Make it a habit to look at the contents in the fridge, plan a food menu and write a shopping list before visiting the supermarket to avoid over-buying which often leads to unnecessary food wastage. Everyone at home can play a part -- make “food saving” fun for the family and pick up more green tips at Clean and Green Singapore’s food wastage guide.