Where are the affordable healthy eating places around town?

[Fawzy]

Let's face it ... I am one of those ppl who don't have the time to cook at home and find myself eating out for every meal of the day. Problem I'm always facing is finding a place that serves healthy food at an affordable price (Pretty much sick of the salads and sandwiches at O'Brien). So if you folks out there have any suggestions... do share. Cheers 

[Paul]

Fawzy you are not alone.  Between traffic on federal highway and a busy schedule I don't have much time to cook either.  The good news is that KL has so many good places to eat that I can always find something not too expensive.  The problem is finding something healthy because things that taste good usually have things that aren't good for the body. 

You don't say what you like but some of the Japanese and Korean restaurants will have lean meat and fish options that have good protein and not much fat and not too expensive.  At western joints like O'Brians, stay away from the breaded and fried things because that is just pure fat.  Instead go for grilled or broiled fish.  I eat a lot of noodle soups because they are flavorful without being too fatening plus the liquid will fill you up and keep you from eating too much.  Watch out for the Laksa because lots of cocunut milk can be fattening. 

Are you looking for Halal places?  If not, you could try Crystal Jade near Lot 10 - it's not as cheap as street food but it's not super expensive either.  BTS down on Imbi has a lot of places, some good, some not so good.  Tell us what you're looking for (type of food, halal/non-halal etc. and I'm sure folks will have all sorts of recommendations.   

Remember, the great thing about working out regularly is that you can still eat the things you like (within reason) and then just burn it off with a hard workout. 

   

[sister of kong]

heya Fawz,
If you like steaks, I quite like Outback because they have steamed veggies which are healthy.  Whereabouts are you looking at ?  When I'm in KL I eat out all the time too so it's a constant search for good healthy food at reasonable prices

[Fawzy]

Hai Folks, Thanks for the messages. Well truthfully I am not really that fastidious when it comes to the halal-ness of my food though I don't conciously consume pork, beef and lamb but it won't make me turn into amber or go off like fireworks if I do. If its in there in the meals that I'm consuming, I just simply take it off my food / plate and continue eating. I guess when you travel abroad as much as I do, you can't really afford to be picky. Nevertheless, it does warrant caution when it comes to the Carbs, sugar and fats that I'm consuming.

Over the recent Deepavali weekend my mates and I went up to Penang (Before I continue with the rest of my rambling, my sincerest apologies to the members here who are from Penang.... My experiences span from my own ignorances). Anyway, we realize its even harder to just go out to the streets there and get decent healthy food. Seriously, we were up at Gurney Drive... though I for one felt that the place was a bit of a rip off and everything was either too oily, too sweet or too salty. Ended up spending our meals at Japanese diners eating salmon sashimi and cold buck wheat sobas..... We did however found this allegedly healthy bakery place along the road at Pulau Tikus. We had a go at their full grain whole wheat muffins which by the way compared to KL pricing was wayyyy pricey. As for the taste, I could have sworn it tasted like chalk! though I'm being very kind here... my mates think it tasted more vile.

I guess my quest continues in my search for decent, inexpensive but healthy eating places in KL.....in the meanwhile, I'm going to try some Korean healthy stuff this weekend and keep this forum posted.. Take care folks and happy working out 

[sister of kong]

Heya Fawzy,
Yeah, last time I was in Gurney Drive, I wondered where all the good food places have gone.  Ended up eating in a place that was, like you said, too oily.  Maybe some Penangnite can give us a hint.  So how much was this exorbitantly expensive chalk tasting muffin?  That reminds me of this bakery in KL where I went to get fresh whole wheat bread.  I noticed that the workers behind the counter all wore gloves so I thought, good they're being hygienic, since they're picking up the baked goods with their hands when they pack them for the customers.  Then I noticed the same worker who had just picked up food in her gloved hands also collected money from the customers, using the same gloved hands, and she went back to picking up food again and on and on 

Sounds like you don't like too much meat.  A lot of Asian cuisine have more carbs than protein, unless you eat a lot of tofu   I started eating a bit more meat so I can get more protein. Also I find that if I have a protein shake after a workout, that helps me recover better.  If you like Japanese, there's a great Japanese home-style cooking restaurant called Toku Toku (I think) in Jln Bukit Bintang that serves really fresh tasty food.  The servings are not very big but the menu is quite healthy.

[Mathiew Liew]

BOoOo!

xD I'm just a 17 years old boy,I can't be eating out everyday,it could dig a hole in my wallet!!

What I do was eating cereal to replace my meal (Breakfast and Dinner) since I working in Kellogg's,I get to eat corn flakes and competitor's (Nestle's Koko Krunch) for FREE niahaHahahahHhhahahahaahaahaha

[sister of kong]

Mathiew,
My favorite breakfast is cereal too, but right now it's mainly oatmeal.   If you eat the ones that don't have too much sugar, some recipes are quite healthy    I like raisin bran.  So don't tell me your job is to taste-test competitor's brands so you get to eat as much as you want 

[Mathiew Liew]

Sadly....I do...they threat us like white rats...xD

[Paul]

Cool job!  Hey Mathiew can you score me some Captain Crunch or Rice Krispies?  Man, I used to love breakfast cereal I swear it's like crack for kids.  Now I eat much healthier but I still get the cravings for some old fashioned gwai lo breakfast cereal.  Most of the time I eat oatmeal and fruit in the AM except when a buddy takes me out for a huge Indian breakfast (yum!!) which puts me to sleep unless I have a couple teh tariks AND coffee.  But seriously, bro you can't live on cereal - way too much sugar and not enough protein.  You need some decent fuel in the tank to get you through your workouts!   

[Mathiew Liew]

I know,I know >.< nowadays those 'fuels' (food =p ) getting much more expansive and I barely can affort it..aahh >.< =P

[Jyane]

Yeah, its hard to afford healthy food on a budget. I guess you've got to be more creative in ordering from, let's say.. the Makcik (Malay food stall). I love spicy food. My strategy is to leave out the rice (full of starch - nasi kawah). So I ask for an empty plate & take a fish cooked in watery&soury assam (as opposed to the rich coconut milk gravy). Take as little gravy as possible (all this adds calories). Add vegetables like spinach, raw vegetable (ulam), tempeh (fermented soyabean) & tofu (if it's fried, dig the inner parts & leave out the skin). Veges & tofu will give you bulk to keep you full til the next meal.

If you like Western food, order grilled chicken chop instead of the batter coated or fried type. Ask them to put gravy on the side (separately, not poured onto the chop). Ask for salad (NO mayo/salad cream) or blanched vegetable instead of fries. And chillie/tomato sauce is a NO NO! (lots of salt, sugar & additives there!)  A lot to ask right? So stick to one stall, who knows your preference. If you are a regular, they will be more obliging.

I eat out my whole life & have put a lot of thought into it. Yes, you've guessed it! I LOVE FOOD!!
I love to cook (or 'experimental' cooking, as my friends call it). I will try out all type of recipes & even concoct some new (strange) dishes!! Ha Ha

If you are adventurous or want to know more about my ideas on eating out, do check out my blogs
http://crazeeeat.blogspot.com
http://crazeefit.blogspot.com

And leave some comments. Love to hear from you all..

[MichelleT]

jyane,
Thanks for sharing your inspirational story and great tips on eating.  My aunty says I'm a skinny fat so I've been trying to eat better food and work out to put on some muscle.  I don't know why so many of my grrl frends got the wrong idea that working out will make them look like those body builders.  It takes a lot of work for me.  I think I eat too much mee and mee hoon and not enuf meat.