Speech by Senior Minister of State Goh Pei Ming at the Healthy Food, Healthier You Dinner on 4 October 2026

Mr Seah Moon Ming, Honorary Advisor of International Leading Education Alliance (ILEA), and Patron of Kampung Senang Charity and Education Foundation,
Mdm Joyce Lye, President of ILEA, and Founder of Kampung Senang,
Dr Eric Wu, Chief Executive Director of ILEA, and Patron of Kampung Senang,
Mr Ng Boon Heong, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Foundation,
Distinguished guests, community partners,
Ladies and gentlemen, 

Introduction

1. A very good evening to everyone. I am very glad to join you at the Healthy Food, Healthier You HiFY dinner this evening.

2. While preparing for tonight’s event and learning more about healthy food and healthy living, I realised and reflected that when I was younger, I could eat whatever I wanted and never had to think very much about it. Nowadays, I find myself thinking of food in terms of how many minutes on the treadmill that translates into. 

3. And I think especially for event organisers，it can be a little stressful for a dinner that is themed after healthy living and healthy dining, because I am sure all of us are looking forward to see what will be on the menu tonight and whether it is healthy enough. But rest assured, the organisers have told me that tonight’s menu has been carefully designed and curated, and endorsed as a healthy one. Please feel free to enjoy tonight’s dinner guilt free.

4. I think going beyond that, healthy living is about much more than a single meal. Tonight, we have come together to reaffirm one simple truth: the choices that we make today shape the health and well-being that we will enjoy tomorrow and beyond.

5. Many health challenges do not appear overnight. Habits such as staying up late, spending excessive time on screens, consuming too much sugar, or leading a sedentary lifestyle can over time increase the risk of health concerns like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. 

Empowering People to Choose a Healthier Future

6. The good news is this – that we all have the power to make healthier choices – good health is built through the little decisions that we make every single day, and the habits that we form over time. You can begin with small steps such as eating balanced meals, staying physically active, getting sufficient sleep, and caring for our mental well-being. Especially because I am from the Ministry of Social and Family Development, sharing meals as a family is another simple but meaningful habit. It gets family members, all of us as a family, to connect and strengthen not just health habits, but familial bonds. In making healthier choices today, we are not merely adding years to our lives. We are improving the quality of the years, so that we can remain active, independent and connected to the people we love.

7. Most of us may know, or think we know, what healthy living looks like. I will be the first to confess as well, “knowing” is not always the same as “doing”. Too often, we may wait until we experience some warning signs or even a health scare before we change our lifestyles. And by then, the costs will be far greater than what we imagine.

8. That is why I am very encouraged by the efforts of the ILEA and Kampung Senang. Together, they are exploring how we can create environments that encourage and sustain positive change through what we call a "Positive Change Motivation System". At its heart, the approach is not about pressure, it’s not about punishment; it is about creating meaningful experiences and supportive communities that make healthy choices easier and more sustainable.

9. ILEA has also been organising the “Body Composition Health Challenge” since August this year, encouraging participants to adopt balanced nutrition and regular exercise, while tracking improvements in key indicators such as muscle mass, waist circumference and visceral fat – allowing healthy progress to be seen, felt, and sustained. Beyond improving individual health, participants often become ambassadors for healthy living, inspiring healthy choices among their families, friends and colleagues.

10. Change often starts with one person. All of us, as individuals, can inspire the people around us – often our families. Through inspiring our rings and circles, and more and more people, we are then able to bring about a culture where healthier living becomes natural and sustainable for all of us.

Closing

11. Tonight, 3,500 friends have gathered here. This is more than a large-scale healthy dinner. It reflects a shared commitment towards healthier living, towards a healthier future. 

12. I would like to thank ILEA, Kampung Senang, and all the partners, volunteers and supporters who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to organise this meaningful event. Your passion, your dedication are helping us build stronger communities, healthier families and a more resilient Singapore. 

13. Let us continue this journey together. By making healthier choices and supporting one another, we will create a healthier future for ourselves, our families and future generations.

14. Now let me say a few brief remarks in Mandarin.

各位嘉宾、社区伙伴、女士们、先生们：
 
1. 大家晚上好！    

2. 今天晚上我们相聚在此，不仅是共享一餐健康晚宴，更是一起播下健康的种子。健康的生活方式并非遥不可及，而是从我们每一天的日常点滴做起。从均衡饮食、适量的运动到充足的休息，都是在为我们各自和我们的家人们创造更健康、更美好的未来。

3. 我们大家心里都知道健康的重要性，但很多时候，都会等到健康出现了警示灯，才开始改变。事实上，预防胜于治疗。在人工智能让世界跑得飞快的这个时代，真正决定人类走向何方，始终是由我们各自心中向上的一股力量来带动改变。只要我们愿意迈出第一步，并坚持下去，每一个小小的改变都会为我们的健康带来长远的回报。

4. 我希望大家不仅成为健康生活的受益者，也成为健康生活的推广者，影响身边更多人一起养成健康习惯。我在此感谢主办单位、各位合作伙伴、义工们、志愿团体们。今天晚上的晚宴，你们大家的付出, 你们的奉献 – 你们辛苦了。让我们携手同行，共同建设更健康、更幸福的家庭、社区和新加坡。

5. 我也在此祝在座的各位身体健康！谢谢大家！