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Kids Healthy Eating Made Simple

Why did you want to set up The Whole Kitchen?
Anne is a certified health coach with a background in marketing and Susan is a classically trained chef with 20 years industry experience. We decided to bring our skills together to start our own brand. We make genuinely healthy food that’s gluten free, low in natural sugar, all natural and made locally…. and of course, delicious!

What are your top tips for planning healthy family meals?
Planning is key, as well as using good quality ingredients and a balance of flavours and colours. Shopping at reputable grocers and markets is important in Singapore, and it’s great to bring the kids along to touch and smell the exotic fruits and make choices about what they’d like to eat. We love shopping at Little Farms (littlefarms.com) for fresh seasonal produce, or our local wet market.

What are your go-to recipes?
Susan: Our house is busy throughout the week, so breakfast is an important time to check in with each other. We like healthy granola with fruits and yoghurt. Sunday nights is a family dinner where I mostly do the cooking. It can range from slow cooked meals like braised pork in milk with sage, to hearty vegetarian soups or a light Aussie style salad with coriander and mint – all shared around the table. We enjoy simple fresh fruits as a dessert.
Anne: Meals usually start with a good protein source like grilled salmon, homemade mince patties, frittata or quinoa, then we add colourful vegetables, zucchini noodles or a crunchy salad. We use a lot of garlic, ginger, turmeric and herbs for taste. On Sundays we like to roast a whole quality chicken with root vegetables.

What’s always in your pantry that kids love to eat?
Susan: My kids love The Whole Kitchen Rock Salt Rosemary Nut Mix and given they are half French and half Aussie they also love saucisson and cheese as a snack along with cucumber crudités.
Anne: Our 16-month-old loves to eat! His favourite snacks now are The Whole Kitchen Country Loaf with avocado, Greek yoghurt with fresh fruit or homemade muffins.

Tips for a healthy lunchbox?
It’s important for kids to keep their energy sustained throughout the day. Include snacks that contain healthy fats, good proteins and complex carbohydrates and avoid high sugar options. We love energy balls, trail mixes, seeds or tahini or hummus on brown rice crackers. Brain food!

How do you keep kids interested in food?
Susan: Start them young and let them explore even if it’s spicy. Travelling to different countries helps with this and opens kids up to so many amazing opportunities. We are very lucky here in Singapore also with the enormous range of foods to choose from. Go to Little India, or Chinatown and ask your kids to order what they want. Getting kids involved in the kitchen can also help form healthy habits and a passion for real food early in life!

thewholekitchen.com.sg

The Mighty Matildas

ANZA Soccer’s girls’ teams excelled in the 2018-19 Season. MARK SAYER, ANZA Soccer Girls’ Programme Coordinator reports on their remarkable team spirit, enthusiasm and results.

During the 2018–19 season, ANZA Soccer had over 110 girls from ages 6-16
participate in girls-only teams against mixed and predominantly boys’ teams in the ANZA Saturday leagues. We fielded one Matildas team per age group, and the girls played one or two years “down” according to age and skill, following generally accepted soccer practice, to allow an even playing field against the boys.

The weekly participation at weekday training and Saturday games was very high, with every player continuing to improve due to passionate parent coaches, as well as the addition of Adelina Gomez, a dedicated professional coach for the Matildas. The younger Matildas are great to watch as their enthusiasm reminds me of my daughter when she joined five years ago – it’s all about having fun!

The Navy Matildas excelled by winning the U11 Saturday league, displaying great teamwork, a strong work ethic, and the ability to consistently execute their game structure. Opposition coaches often commented on how impressed they were with the Matildas’ disciplined team approach, rather than the “flock to the ball” approach of many young players.

Competitions

Bangkok International

The Matildas competition teams had a stellar year, with almost every tournament resulting in gold. In January, our U12, U14, and U16 teams competed in the Bangkok International Girls Football Competition, a 7-a-side event with 8 to 12 teams per age group. The U14s (Navy & Gold Matildas) defended their title, winning a very tough final against the Bangkok-based Nongchok Tigers. After a 1-1 draw at full time, the Matildas scored in the 3-versus-3 sudden death finale, a brutal and exhausting way to decide the championship! Both the U16s (SkyBlue Matildas) and U12s (Navy & Red Matildas) were semifinalists. The 30 girls and their parents provided great support for each other, and the players’ behavior on and off the pitch was exemplary. Their team comradery was shown when one of the U14 girls suffered concussion on the Saturday due to a head-on-head collision. Returning from hospital that evening, she found her shared hotel room filled with gifts, cards, and balloons, all at the girls’ initiative, as they rushed to the mall after the last round-robin game. They “won for Kim” the next day.

JSSL International 7s

In April, the largest junior football tournament in Southeast Asia, the JSSL International 7s was held in Singapore. In addition to the fantastic U14 and U16 Matildas’ wins, victories for our U12 and U16 boys’ teams enabled ANZA to win the overall Paul Parker Trophy. The U16 Matildas also competed in the tournament’s Professional 7s and made their opponents from Liverpool’s youth academy work hard for their closely fought win. The JSSL Girls Sunday League was held throughout the season. Our girls’ competition teams played against other Singapore-based teams, and the season ended with a resounding victory for our U14s, a come-from-behind victory for the U12s in their final match, and a second-place finish for the U16s.

SingaCup Womens 6s

Finally, the SingaCup Womens 6s was held in May, and once again our U14s were victorious, as were our U16s, while our U12s lost in a penalty shootout in the final. Playing against mixed teams on Saturdays prepares the Matildas well for girls-only competitions by honing their game plans, their resilience, and their team spirit. This unity amongst the girls and their parents is unparalleled and is a key determinant in our success.

Players Wanted!

Registration is now open for ANZA Soccer 2019/2020 season for kids aged 3-18 years.

The season begins on 24 August and finishes 25 April 2020.

Sign up now at anza.org.sg/sports/soccer

How to host an Eco Kids Party

Ditch the balloons
According to Australia’s CSIRO, balloons are one of the top three most harmful pollutants threatening marine wildlife. Foil balloons are even worse than latex as they take much longer to biodegrade. The good news is, there are plenty of alternatives.
Emma Robertson Chia of eco-friendly party creators Hopping Hares Parties (facebook.com/hoppingharesparties) suggests colourful pompoms, tassels or fabric bunting to create a festive look. “Use old clothing or scraps of material you have at home to make bunting. If you are not creatively inclined get your kids to cut out the triangles and then take it to a seamstress (below HDBs) to have made up for you. It’s cheap and you employ someone locally.” Short on time or don’t have old fabric lying around? There are local shops that sell fabric bunting (givefun.com.sg, partyday.com.sg). These can be reused many times.

Add style to your setting
There’s no need to set the table with plastic. Colourful fabric tablecloths and napkins are gorgeous and reusable. Borrow from friends, or try IKEA, Spotlight, or one of the many fabric shops in Chinatown or Arab St. Anything you buy can be reused for future parties and lent out to your pals for their event. For extra colour, turn to nature: flowers and leaves make eye-catching table centrepieces.

Rent or DIY
For a Pinterest-worthy deco scheme, rent a backdrop from one of Singapore’s many creative party stylists: upscale party planners Stitchxmarker hand-make their stunning party decorations, which are available to rent at stitchxmarker.com. Sprinkie Parties also have backdrops and props available to rent at reasonable prices: sprinkieparties.com. Want something unique? Emma recommends creating it yourself. “Consider making something out of cardboard. It’s fun to make, effective and biodegradable.”

Servingware
Disposable plastic servingware is a definite case of convenience over sustainability. The best option is to use your existing plates and cutlery or borrow from friends. For those concerned about breakages or clean-up, there are several eco-friendly disposable options. Emma suggests the palm leaf plates and cutlery from Naturerustic (naturerustic.com) or The Eco Statement theecostatement.com, available on Redmart. At $3 for a pack of 10 forks, and $5 for 10 plates, it’s only slightly more expensive than throw-away plastic and they are biodegradable. Swap juice boxes and plastic water bottlers for reusable jugs or pitchers. “Fill jugs with tap water and add slices of fruit like lemons or berries for a little flavour,” suggests Emma. Have clearly labelled recycling bins at the party venue. “Whatever waste you do produce, sort for recycling and consider composting.”

Food

If you really want to lower the environmental impact of your parties, consider serving some vegetarian or vegan food. “Animals for meat and cheese production are the single largest contributors to global warming, ocean acidification, fresh water pollution and deforestation,” Emma points out. Go for fruit or vegetable skewers, platters with cut veggies, and dips like hummus and guacamole. “If you want more traditional fare try vegan nuggets by Quorn, Fry’s or Marks & Spencer. I swear you can’t tell the difference!”
Serving finger food also reduces the amount of plates and cutlery needed. If you are culinarily challenged, caterers Lush Platters (lushplatters.com) offer a variety of mouth-watering grazing platters presented with minimal packaging. Have some reusable containers on hand for guests to take leftovers home.

Goody bags
The dreaded ‘goody bag’ or take-home present usually involves plastic toys that break or get tossed aside. Emma suggests doing a craft activity to give the kids a keepsake to bring home. She threw a Viking party where children painted their own cardboard Viking shield, and a sleepover party where kids customised their own dreamcatchers. Other easy options are customising a T-shirt or bag, making a mask or jewellery.
Get the birthday child involved in making some presents for their friends. Some ideas include homemade playdoh, or rainbow popcorn. For last-minute gifts, check out eco-friendly stores like facebook.com/UnPackt.SG/ or thefirstgreenstore.com/ for sustainable gifts like plantable pencils.
Use recyclable containers to present them in, like jars tied with ribbon. “For smaller presents, toilet rolls make excellent wrapping,” Emma suggests. For alternatives to traditional wrapping paper or gift bags try cloth bags or get the kids to create some artwork on recycled paper.

These small steps will go a long way to reducing the waste but maximising the fun produced at your next kids party.

Teen Depression – When to Seek Help

What causes the mood changes in my pre-teen/teenager?
Though our hormones are commonly blamed for the ups and downs of adolescence, the changes in teenagers are primarily because of changes in the brain. Between 12-24 years, the brain is developing faster than ever before, and the last area to be fully developed is the frontal lobe, which is important for impulse control and decision making. Until it’s fully developed, teenagers rely on the part of the brain associated with emotion, impulse, aggression and instinct, called the amygdala, to make decisions.

How common is depression in adolescence?
Because of these changes, depression is adolescence can be a problem and we need to talk about it. Between 10-15% of teenagers have some symptoms of depression at any given time.

What are some signs my child has depression?
Temperamental teens are common, and moodiness and excessive sleeping
do not necessarily mean depression. The following are some signs that your child may be depressed, and you should seek help:

– Sad or irritable for most of the day, for most days in the last two weeks.
– Loss of interest in things that they usually enjoyed.
– Change in eating or sleeping habits
– Unexplained aches and pains.
– Little energy or motivation to do anything.
– Feelings of hopelessness about the future or feeling worthless or guilty about things that are not their fault.
– Changes in grades and academics.
– Smartphone addiction (chronic smartphone use that can distract from participating in daily activities).
– Any thoughts or discussion of suicide or self-harm.

What can my paediatrician or doctor do to help?
It’s recommended that all teens be screened for depression yearly. If you are worried about depression in your teenager, schedule a visit to your family doctor that is dedicated to discussing mood and depression.
Treatment options can vary, depending on the severity of your teen’s symptoms. Be assured that any evaluation and treatment by a GP is kept confidential. For example, IMC has a strict code of conduct in relation to patient confidentiality.

How can we get through these next difficult years?
Parents of teens should practice patience and provide guidance during these exciting, but sometimes tumultuous years. It’s important to build empathy and validate your teen’s emotions without trying to always problem solve. Continuing to support kids to eat nutritious foods, get enough sleep, limit screen time and get daily physical activity can all have a positive effect on mood.
Remember that a parent’s influence runs deeper than you think. Enjoy time together with your teenager doing simple tasks, such as going for a walk, cooking a meal or watching a movie. Making time to do simple things with your young adult will leave the door open for conversations that may be difficult and can make more of a difference than you can imagine.

In crisis? Need support?
Please contact (free and confidential) Samaritans of Singapore 24 hour hotline on 1800-221-4444 or via email pat@sos.org.sg. SOS provides emotional support and guidance from trained volunteers. sos.org.sg

Dr Arti Jaiswal from IMC Paediatric

Talking Teens
IMC will be hosting a Talking Teens seminar aimed at parents of teens. The event will cover physical, sexual and mental health. Date: Friday 27 Sept, 10-11.30am at Camden Medical Centre. For tickets visit imc-healthcare.com

Safe Water for Kids

Fleur (third from left) volunteering in Myanmar

What drew you to this cause?
My mother lives in Nhill, Victoria, which has a population of only 1,800 but is home to 220 Karen refugees. As with all rural townships, Nhill has an ageing population and suffers from brain drain to the city. The Karen refugees have contributed greatly to the economy of the region, working on duck and flower farms. Now, the younger generation are being trained as nurses and mechanics, and some aspire to become doctors. Karen people have a strong sense of community and identity. One of my mother’s friends saw an Australian invention, the SkyHydrant water filter, showcased at a Rotary meeting and thought her family village in Myanmar could benefit from one. I wanted to help facilitate this through my location in Singapore.

When did you personally get involved?
Tha Blay, a former refugee, and I first visited the region in April 2018. We tested the water to find out if it was causing water borne diseases in the communities. When we visited a remote IDP camp located in a narrow valley, we found the stream and wells were indeed contaminated by E.coli bacteria, due to the close proximity of latrines to the wells.
All water sources for the camp, with a population of over 2,500, contained E.coli exceeding World Health Organisation standards for drinking water, and were considered unsafe. People were doing all their washing in the stream because they had no other choice.
We also visited Tha Blay’s village in rural eastern Myanmar and found the same situation, that all the wells were unsafe to drink from. Our first trip involved talking to the communities about a plan for installation and maintenance of the water filters.

SkyHydrants being transported to remote areas

Tell us about the SkyHydrant?
The SkyHydrant has been invented for disaster situations, so it’s light and portable if the people must move again. The units are simple to operate, with the absolute minimum of mechanical devices, such as pumps.

How is the project going?
To date, we have installed four SkyHydrants in camps and villages in Myanmar, providing safe drinking water for over 3,500 people. We have plans to install at least four SkyHydrants a year, for five years. While safe water is my passion, there are so many needs. I’ve assisted my team who were stateless to get identity papers so they can apply for university, and taken medicines, mosquito nets, soaps and school supplies into the camps. I’ve done two stints teaching English at summer school. Everyone I work with has a strong sense of obligation to gain a good education, then go back to work in their communities when a peaceful solution can be brokered.

How do you get supplies to them?
Transport is incredibly difficult due to the terrain and remoteness. Travel is via non-existent 4WD tracks through forests in Thailand and then on a boat up river. All the tanks, pipes and concrete need to be taken in this way, and carried by hand. The villagers walk for over 12 hours to meet the boat and carry heavy loads of books tied onto poles on the return trip the next day. The books are so valuable to school children, as many don’t even have basic exercise books for the year.

What work still needs to be done?
There’s still a great deal of tension in the region and travel is exceptionally difficult for foreigners, and often not permitted. I’ve trained a local team to take supplies for clean water, medicines and education into the remote villages where they still have relatives that often must flee to the forest after threats and action from the Tatmadaw (Burmese military). My next challenges are getting immunisations to a remote camp where the children have not been immunised since international non-government funding dried up in 2017.

Education is highly valued among Karen people

What would be the best result for this group in the future?
The ethnic people have established a Peace Park where they practice community forestry and traditional ways of living in these remote mountain villages. They want to determine their own future and manage their own lands. An ideal solution would be cultural-tourism, featuring their exquisite traditional weaving, medicines and foods collected from the forest, and Karen and Animist culture, but the central government does not allow visitors to the area, due to the on-going conflict.

What close ties have you formed?
I’m very close to my team and the wonders of Facebook mean we can talk almost every day to plan and resolve issues. Tank stands have been built by sharing photos of handwritten plans and diagrams via messenger.

Kids enjoying safe water, thanks to the SkyHydrant!

What do you like about volunteering?
As anyone who volunteers knows, the rewards you get are much richer than what you put in. It brings me great joy to see the Safe Water team gain knowledge and confidence to solve problems in their own communities.

disasteraidaustralia.org.au/our-aid/safe-water-for-every-child 

ANZA Netball Perth Tour

Holly Reidy
ANZA Storm
Changi Airport didn’t know what had hit it when at 7:30am, an ocean of girls in blue, red and white took over. 29 excited ANZA netball players were ready to take on the best of Western Australia. After four months of intense training, we couldn’t wait to put our skills to the test.
Arriving at the State Netball Centre at Wembley Sports Park was like arriving in another world, 52 netball courts and thousands of players. Pippa and Savannah represented ANZA in the opening ceremony, proudly carrying the flag. Suddenly, it was time to play. Pre-game we were nervous but once we started playing the game we love, the jitters disappeared. We were warmly welcomed by all the WA teams and had a blast. We enjoyed the entertainment and food on offer, coming back with glittery faces, jumbo snow cones and of course, smiles.
Day 2 brought another early start and great day of netball. The three teams supported each other, cheering and watching every game possible. After our games finished, my teammates and I went down for a swim at the beach (keep in mind, it was winter). That night the parents joined us for dinner. We had a great time! Monday was the final day of our trip and the last game in the round. We were also lucky enough to meet the stars of the West Coast Fever. My team, ANZA Storm, won six games and made it to the Grand Final. We were well supported by other Singapore clubs in the final; Centaurs even made a tunnel for us to run through! The final was a very close game, a tie at full time! This went into extra time and resulted in us coming second. It was a great experience and was the most intense game we’ve ever played.
This unbelievable tour would not be possible without our amazing coach Kylie, and hard-working manager Michelle, who made sure every small detail was taken care of.

Charlotte Jory
ANZA Lightning
10 months ago, I attended my first ANZA netball session and I didn’t know anyone. By late May I was travelling to Perth with my teammates to take part in an international tournament. I started with no friends and now I have friends for life! ANZA = friendship. The experience was unforgettable, and we made so many memories together – like rolling down the hill and playing seven matches in three days. It now feels like we have known each other for years.
Netball was really fun and we improved as a team the more we played. ANZA Storm, ANZA Merlions and the parents were very supportive and cheered us during the games. Overall, we came 4th, which was far better than expected. It was all down to good training and coaching. Our motivational, determined coach Nicole and our hard-working, supportive manager Leanne were with us every step of the way.”

Bella Worthington
ANZA Merlions
I was lucky enough to be part of the Merlions team who travelled to Perth. We trained hard for several months on Saturday mornings and Monday nights as we knew the competition was going to be fierce. The first morning was quite cold and we were so excited to get to the state netball centre in our ANZA tracksuits. The competition over the three days was really tough but played with good sportsmanship, and I will always remember how friendly the other teams were.  The level of netball was incredible, and we all had to lift our level and improve over the course of the tournament to play better than we knew we could.  It was a great experience to be part of such a huge tournament.
Thanks to our coach Suzie and team parent Jo for taking such good care of us and helping us to have a great trip, and to the coaches back in Singapore who helped us prepare, especially Pippa and Shuangru. I can’t wait to do it all again next year!”

Sign up for the 2019/2020 ANZA Netball season, which runs from 7 September 2019 to 21 March 2020. anza.org.sg/sports/netball

Check out – kids fun activities

1.Skyline Luge Sentosa
45 Siloso Beach Walk, 099003
(second entrance at Imbiah Lookout)
skylineluge.com/en/sentosa
Take the Skyride chairlift, ride above the trees and then jump in a lightweight four-wheeled kart and cruise down a choice of trails on the slopes of Sentosa. Riders have full control over their descent, as they twist and turn down wide jungle tracks like the Jungle or the Dragon trail, Kupu Kupu and Expedition. Zoom to the end, ready to do it all over again!

2.Woods in the Books
No. 3 Yong Siak St, Tiong Bahru 168642
woodsinthebooks.sg
This quaint bookshop specialises in gorgeous picture books, while a second branch, Books Ahoy! (located at 583 Orchard Rd, 02-03) offers chapter and picture books in fiction and non-fiction that will satisfy the reading needs of older kids. Bring your junior booklovers to one of their regular reading sessions or workshops.

3.Singapore’s National Museum
98 Stamford Road, 178897
nationalmuseum.sg
Check out fascinating exhibitions and galleries featuring the history of Singapore’s food, fashion, photography, street art, social history and more. Early Learning Resources introduce pre-schoolers to the museum’s artefacts themed around numbers, colours, and ABCs. Look out for special kid friendly events around National Day on 9-10 August and loads of drop in activities and workshops advertised on their website.

4.Marina Barrage
8 Marina Gardens Dr, 018951
Marina Barrage attracts families all year round, thanks to its expanse of green space, jaw-dropping views of the bay area and the occasional sightings of otters, monitor lizards and other critters. It’s also a great place to go fly a kite. Pack a picnic basket and unfurl your kite into the sky – this old-fashioned kids’ activity never goes out of style. If you don’t have a kite, head to the Gift, Kite & Convenience Store for a huge selection of flying creations – from ladybirds to dragons.

5.Punggol Waterway Park
Along Sentul Crescent Road nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves/punggol-waterway-park
Built around the Punggol Waterway and located along Sentul Crescent, Punggol Waterway Park is an expansive and beautifully kept green haven, perfect for family adventures. The park is segmented into four different themes – Nature Cove, Recreation Zone, Heritage Zone and Green Gallery. Little kids will adore the Rec Zone with activities like water and sand play. For more amazing local parks, turn to page 22.

6.MINT Museum of Toys
26 Seah Street, Singapore 188382
emint.com
Dial up the nostalgia while introducing your kids to classic characters like Tintin and Popeye at this private toy museum. Over five levels, MINT showcases a collection of over 50,000 vintage toys, including rare pieces from more than 40 countries, such as the valuable Alice Doll (UK, 1930s) by Farnell and the Mickey Mouse Hurdy Gurdy (Germany, 1930s). Check the website for Make & Play sessions.

7.DinoQuest
The Annex, Science Centre
15 Science Centre Road, 609081
science.edu.sg
Until August 31, travel back in time to the Cretaceous period and solve the mystery behind the elusive Australian polar dinosaurs. Curated by world-renowned palaeontologist Emerita Professor Patricia Vickers-Rich, DinoQuest spans across seven thematic zones that engage dino fans in a multi-sensory experience; from holographic mapping to augmented and virtual reality environments.

8.Central Public Library
100 Victoria St, #B1-01 188064
Basement 1 of National Library Building
nlb.gov.sg
The proud home of Mr Tree House, the world’s first green library for kids, the children’s section of the NLB is a haven for mini bookworms and parents alike. Explore the sizeable collection of children’s books and sign up for diverse programmes; from book clubs to lunchtime talks and storytelling sessions.

9.HeadRock VR Singapore
#01-38/39, Resorts World
26 Sentosa Gateway, 098269
facebook.com/headrockvrsg
HeadRock VR claims to be Singapore’s first fully-fledged Virtual Reality themed park, boasting 11 mild to challenging adventures. Strap in and get transported into virtual adventures, including braving a blizzard, warding off a robot enemy attack and taking a jungle rafting adventure. Tickets need to be purchased from Sistic.

Why is Health Insurance for Kids Important?

  •  Sponsored Content 

Singapore boasts arguably one of the best public healthcare systems in the world. Having said that, parents in the city-state are also faced with the question of whether to buy a private medical insurance policy for their kids. To help, Pacific Prime Singapore lists the four major health risks facing children in the city.

  1. Child illness

The number one threat to children’s health is simple: disease. Their underdeveloped immune system, plus their frequent interaction with the environment and other children, make them vulnerable to developing various health conditions. The most common illnesses among children include:

  • The common cold
  • Acute bronchitis
  • Chickenpox
  • Asthma
  • Eczema

While some of the above are rather easy to treat, others are serious conditions that require long-term medical attention.

  1. Genetic disease

Sometimes, it’s what hides within that’s dangerous. Our own genes might well be the culprit to the development of an ailment. Here are the most common genetic disorders in Singapore:

  • Down syndrome
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Congenital heart disease
  • Autistic spectrum disorder

Worse still, many of these genetic disorders have no outright cure, which means that children may have to live with the illness for their whole lives, and the potential medical costs can quickly rack up. Furthermore, certain genetic conditions may also increase the child’s risk of developing other health problems.

  1. Injury-prone activities

It’s very natural for kids to engage in different kinds of physical activities, which heighten their chances of injury. You may want to consider securing health insurance for your little ones to cover any medical expenses that may arise. The most common injuries seen among children in Singapore include:

  • Falls
  • Injuries caused by sharp objects
  • Cycling accidents
  • Burns and scalds
  • Cuts
  1. Environmental risks

Singapore is considered very safe, but as with any other country in the world, unforeseen and invisible risks can still lurk around us and lead to serious health conditions, such as:

  • Mould
  • Insect bites
  • Gas
  • Air pollution
  • Water pollution

Among these threats, air pollution is particularly an issue as pollutants may be blown into Singapore from other countries. For this reason, children are advised to stay indoors to minimise their exposure to harmful particulates.

Got more questions?

Established in 2000, Pacific Prime Singapore has grown from its humble beginnings to become a leading insurance brokerage with nine regional offices. Contact us today to get a free quote, plan comparison, and answers to all your questions!

Family Volunteering in Singapore

Dot Teo and her daughters, Christine and Angeline

Cycling Without Age (CWA) works with senior care centres to offer older Singaporeans volunteer- piloted trishaw rides. When Dorothy (Dot) Teo first heard of CWA she loved the idea of using a trishaw to interact with seniors and give them increased mobility and social interaction. Her daughters, Christine and Angeline, also thought it would be fun to be involved, to meet new people and visit new places. Now, only a short time later, Dot is a CWA volunteer, a trainer, and member of the Board of Trustees.

Never too young to contribute
Dot and her husband Bernard began involving their daughters in volunteering activities during their school breaks when they were 9 and 7. Since 2016, the girls and their parents have been involved in CWA and have also worked at the soup kitchen at Willing Hearts, done meal deliveries for Dorcas Home Care Services, and they are currently volunteering weekly with a speech and language therapy centre for children. “When the girls were younger, they treated volunteering as a play date,” says Dot. “As they have matured, they’ve learnt that they’re contributing to society and making a difference in another person’s life…we want to make volunteering a way of life for them.”
Christine, now 12, finds volunteering makes her holidays more meaningful. “For CWA I sit with the passengers and try and talk to them. My Chinese is not good, but I sometimes hold their hands and listen to the seniors if they want to talk.”

The great outdoors
Being on the trishaw is precious time outdoors for the seniors and it’s boosted their happiness and sociability, as people often stop and chat as they are cycling around. Being involved with the program helps Dot to slow down, focus on the older generation, and prioritise her time with those that are important to her. “I’ve started spending more time with my family and senior relatives. My children are watching, and I know that, when they have their own families, they will still consciously set time aside for us.”

Since its launch in 2015, CWA has grown to 600 volunteers and 15 trishaws. More than 10,000 seniors have experienced free trishaw rides. If you’d like to volunteer for Cycling Without Age you can find more information at cyclingwithoutage.sg

Family volunteering ideas
Have you thought about volunteering as a family? Other ideas for getting involved include; The Food Bank Juniors Club at The Food Bank Singapore, beach clean ups with Trash Hero Singapore, creating and distributing meals for low-income families with Willing Hearts and, for those with dogs, Therapy Dogs Singapore has a Pet Assisted Therapy programme.
To find out more about our ANZA Action charity partners and the most up to date opportunities contact Suzanna at: anzaaction@anza.org.sg or go to anza.org.sg/groups/anza-action

Hotspots: Rizu & Crossroads Cafe

RIZU Modern Japanese Cuisine
39 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089617
rizu.com.sg

After a hectic workday a visit to the sleek Japanese restaurant RIZU is the perfect remedy. My dining partner and I sink into plush seats, with cool towels and a printed menu outlining our forthcoming 8-course Signature Omakase. Smooth jazz plays quietly in the background and our glasses are filled with sweet, dry sparkling sake and excellent French pinot noir. And exhale…
We’re not fans of urchin or caviar, and the kitchen is more than happy to modify the menu. Our first dishes are cauliflower, topped with edible flowers, followed by tender white asparagus spears and scallop and slivers of glistening sashimi. The presentation is artful, and everything tastes wonderful – fresh and full of delicate Japanese-French flavours. Tableside, our waiter pours a creamy pea soup over fresh, green peas and shoots, then delivers a rich slice of foie gras, bamboo shoot and moringa. For the main we opt for the Wagyu beef with shavings of truffle, black garlic and crispy burdock root chips. After a palette cleanser of mint, basil and lemongrass, we are served traditionally prepared sushi – just perfect raw fish, a dash of soy and wasabi, and palm shaped rice. To finish, a house-made matcha ice-cream with sweet azuki red bean.
Verdict: Elegant, fresh and flavourful omakase, thoughtfully prepared by Head Chef Noboru Shimohigashi.

Crossroads Café
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
320 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238865
singaporemarriott.com/restaurant/crossroads-café

This breezy, bustling café is located at the crossroads of Orchard Road’s busiest intersection, under the wings of the iconic Marriot Hotel. It’s perfect for a pitstop between shopping, and it would be easy to wile away a few hours people watching and enjoying the extensive drinks list. Offering both local and international flavours, Crossroads caters to just about any palette – including hungry kids and teens. I start with a grilled asparagus and pumpkin salad, with flax seeds and vino cotto dressing, and a bowl of Char Hor Fun, a local favourite with seafood, rice noodles, mushroom, egg and oyster sauce. It’s pleasant, but my tastebuds prefer the excellent beer battered cod fish and chips (crispy and wonderfully fresh white fish) and Marriot Burger with Angus beef, crispy bacon and trimmings. The dessert menu is enticing, and I can’t go past the classic sticky date pudding, with lashings of caramel sauce and very good vanilla bean ice cream. A quick macchiato and I’m back on the road with a pep in my step.
Verdict: This easy-going, versatile café offers a wide range of East meets West plates.

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