Minister of State for Health Amy Khor said yesterday that women are "key influencers of their family's values and lifestyle" and highlighted their role in promoting healthy living in households.

Dr Khor, MP for Hong Kah North, stressed the importance of women being aware of healthy diets as they are usually the ones who decide what their families eat.

"If they are convinced of (the benefits) of a healthy lifestyle, and participate in regular exercise, I am sure that it will rub off on their families," she said at the Active Women's Day cum One Community Cooking event.

Organised by the Hong Kah North Women's Executive Committee and held at Hong Kah North Community Centre, the event sought to spread awareness of healthy living and to impart knowledge of healthy cooking to female residents.

About 60 women from "Wok-A-Talk" community interest groups in Hong Kah North, Chua Chu Kang, Dover and West Coast wards prepared healthier versions of common Chinese dishes that contained less oil and salt.

The "Wok-A-Talk" groups were started in mid-June last year to teach women about healthy cooking.

The groups also serve as a platform for those interested in cooking to get in touch with one another.

To reach out to the less fortunate, 120 needy residents living in the area were invited to a fun walk at Woodlands Waterfront.

They were then treated to the dishes prepared by Wok-A-Talk members, which included steamed vegetables and popiah.

Dr Khor hoped the event will encourage residents to lead a healthy lifestyle by maintaining a healthy diet and participating in regular exercise.

"We want to ensure that people have a long life...and we also want to encourage them to make sure they have (a good) quality of life," she said.

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