bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Sasha Gonzales

At a time when every dollar counts, many of us are changing the way we eat to save money. Take mother of three and Hong Kong resident Asher Chan, for instance.
A lifelong vegetarian, she transitioned to veganism in the past year for a couple of reasons – one of which was the rising cost of milk and eggs. Now her family uses plant-based alternatives to these foods, which she says are more affordable.
“Free-range eggs are expensive in Hong Kong, but egg replacer [usually made from starch and a leavening agent] is cheaper than even battery-cage eggs. Plus it keeps for months and is more convenient and less messy,” says Chan. “Genuine organic milk is expensive, so now my whole family drinks soy and oat milks.”
Restaurateur Geet Sushil Jadhwani, co-founder of Indian vegetarian restaurant Kailash Parbat in Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui district, has noticed that more people have reduced their consumption of meat, seafood, dairy produce and eggs – or stopped eating them completely – because they’re trying to reduce their food expenses.

“Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, I’ve met more customers opting to go vegan or vegetarian. They say that this change has slashed their monthly meal expenditure by 30 to 40 per cent,” Jadhwani says.
“It’s a common perception that veganism is something only privileged people can afford, but the truth is that plant-based meals are more wallet-friendly.”
Vegan diet myths debunked: experts talk iron, protein, calcium, cost
New research from Oxford University supports this. A 2021 study published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal revealed that adopting a vegan, vegetarian, or flexitarian diet in countries such as the United States, Britain and Australia, and across western Europe, could reduce your food bill.
The researchers compared the cost of seven sustainable diets with the current typical diet in 150 countries using food prices from the World Bank’s International Comparison Program.
The study, which did not include highly processed meat replacements, takeaway meals or eating at restaurants, found that, in high-income countries, vegan diets were the most affordable and reduced food costs by up to a third, with vegetarian diets a close second.
I feel good knowing that, although I’m spending less on food now, the meals that I cook for my family are still fresh and tasty, and much healthier.
Asher Chan
Flexitarian diets – those containing low amounts of meat and dairy produce – reduced costs by 14 per cent. In contrast, pescatarian diets – those containing fish but not meat – increased costs by up to 2 per cent.
The rising costs of meat, seafood and dairy products can be attributed to a confluence of factors: increasing demand and inadequate supply, inflation and stagnant wages.
“Demand for these foods has shot up, but supply has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels,” Jadhwani explains.

“When the pandemic began, farmers reduced the size of their herds, and now they’re having to deal with an increase in the price of grain fed to their animals.
“At the same time, meat-processing facilities are faced with labour shortages and rising rental costs. And then there are supply chain challenges, such as increasing freight rates.”
She adds: “The current food system, based on meat and dairy production, is a huge contributor to world hunger, as the majority of crops grown worldwide go towards feeding livestock, not people.”

Along with conflict, climate extremes and growing inequality, the global spikes in food prices are threatening to push millions of families around the world into famine, according to the World Food Programme, the United Nations’ food-assistance branch.
Switching to a vegan or vegetarian diet won’t just save you money; it’s also good for your health. Numerous studies over the years have found that consuming more whole plant foods is associated with weight loss, improved gut health, a stronger immune system, and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and other serious illnesses.
Dried beans and whole grains such as oats and brown rice are some of the most affordable and healthy whole plant foods you can buy, says Dr Vanita Rahman, an internal medicine doctor and nutritionist and the clinic director at the Barnard Medical Centre in Washington, the US capital.

“Both are filling and chock-full of fibre, and dried beans cost as little as 99 US cents a pound [HK$15.60 for 1kg],” she says.
When buying vegetables and fruit, Rahman suggests choosing what’s in season, as it’s usually cheaper and more flavourful. Frozen varieties are also affordable, plus they’re handy to have in case you need to prepare a meal in a hurry.
Canned fruit and vegetables are convenient and nutritious, too, but Rahman recommends checking the label to make sure they don’t contain added sugar or salt.
‘I’ve never felt fitter or healthier’: trail runner on her vegan diet
If you are considering switching to a vegan or vegetarian diet but don’t know where to start, Rahman says to try “veganising” your favourite meals: swap the meat-based stir-fry for a tofu and vegetable one, make tacos filled with mushrooms instead of meat, or burgers made with black beans.
You can also search online for recipes, or invest in a good plant-based cookbook, such as The Win-Win Diet: How to Be Plant-Based and Still Eat What You Love, by American wellness expert Julie Wilcox. Published earlier this year, the book contains 95 recipes and sample meal plans designed to help you get healthier.
Chan, who was born in the UK and moved to Hong Kong seven years ago, cooks daily for her family. Her husband and youngest daughter are vegan and her two other daughters are vegetarian, but eat mostly vegan.

Typical meals include beanburgers, lentil curries, seasonal produce, and tofu and plant-based meat – which they buy in bulk to save money. Chan also bakes vegan cakes and savoury pies.
“Lychees are currently in season so we’re eating them almost every day, and I try to use local produce where possible – I buy local green leafy vegetables like choy sum instead of imported spinach, for example,” she says.
She adds that cutting out dairy products and eggs is one of the best things she has done for herself and her family.
A green revolution: the rise of plant-based ‘meat’ in Hong Kong
“For one, my mental health is better and I’m finding it easier to maintain my weight. And, because I buy cheap kitchen staples, local and seasonal produce from the wet market, and plant-based items in bulk, I’ve managed to keep our food costs down,” Chan says.
“I feel good knowing that, although I’m spending less on food now, the meals that I cook for my family are still fresh and tasty, and much healthier.”
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Vegan, vegetarian and flexitarian diets can save you money as food prices rise, and also improve your health – here’s how to make the switch

Asher Chan with her family, for whom the Hong Kong mother-of-three cooks vegan and vegetarian food. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Asher Chan’s homemade vegetable pies. At a time when food prices are rising, adopting a plant-based diet is good for your wallet as well as your health. Photo: Asher Chan

Asher Chan’s sandwich cake, made without dairy produce or eggs. Photo: Asher Chan

Restaurateur Geet Sushil Jadhwani, co-founder of Indian vegetarian restaurant Kailash Parbat in Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui neighbourhood. Photo: Geet Sushil Jadhwani

Asher Chan’s vegan cookies, which she enjoys making for family and friends. Photo: Asher Chan

Dr Vanita Rahman, an internal medicine doctor and nutritionist at the Barnard Medical Centre in Washington. Photo: Barnard Medical Centre

Asher Chan (3rd from left) and her family eat lychees, currently in season, at their home in Hong Kong’s Sha Tin neighbourhood. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Lifestyle

Health & Wellness

Health

Family & Relationships

Food & Drink


Eating mostly whole plant foods can lower your food costs significantly, and reduce your risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease while promoting gut health
Swap meat for tofu, mushrooms, beans and whole grains, and choose local, seasonal fruit and vegetables. Search online for recipes, or get a plant-based cookbook



With food prices rising, switching to a vegetarian, vegan, or flexitarian diet makes sense from a wealth point of view, as well as being good for health.
