Tackling the rising cost of living in Malaysia through meal planning / Nazima Versay Kudus

The rising cost of living is a pressing concern for many families in Malaysia. Multiple factors contribute to this issue, including the ever-volatile price of petrol. It is common for the general public to equate a rise in living costs especially with increases in petrol prices, given the direct impact on transportation and logistics. In big cities like the Klang Valley, this rise is particularly felt in the cost of food, making it imperative for families to carefully monitor their expenditure. There are various meal planning techniques available to help address this problem. Meal prepping involves preparing dishes in advance to be cooked throughout the week. Ingredients are bought, cleaned, cut, sliced, and diced, then placed in containers for easy access. For example, if you plan to serve ayam goreng berempah (spiced fried chicken) during the weekdays, you clean and cut the chicken, marinate it with spices and salt, and store it in the fridge. When ready to cook during the week, defrost the marinated chicken, and it is ready to be fried.