Davao City is known as a growing city from the south. However, its socio-economic development is also challenged by a potentially unhealthy lifestyle. Behind the colorful street lights along the busy roads of the city, street foods are rampant, offering affordable, immediate and tasty food products. What is their impact on customers’ health?
Our team tried to ask several students from different universities in Davao, and we’ve found out their most favorite street foods and the reasons for their perpetual delight in street junk food. Here are their top 10 picks:
10) Banana Cue
While Westerners have honey-dipped apples, we have our own sweet, classical Filipino bananas, either sugarcoated or buttered. They certainly don’t fail to appeal to a youngsters’ sweet tooth. Sweetness is just the prologue, however, and tonsillitis is the climax of the story. Overindulgence in banana cue doesn’t help satisfy our craving sweets. We should eat them in moderation.
Davao’s most sought-after street foods: Banana Cue| Photo by Mark Christian Jefferson Tuazon
9) Taco
Sidewalk vendors have their own version of a very affordable fried taco stuffed with meat, chopped veggies and cheese. Just don’t forget to add ketchup to complete the sidewalk Mexican fever.
Davao’s most sought-after street foods: Taco| Photo by Mark Christian Jefferson Tuazon
8) Siomai
A combo of garlic sauce and kalamansi helps these steamed pork dumplings create a lavish taste. For only three pesos, you can surely heat up your appetite and crave for more. This is one of the highest income-generating sources for micro scale businesses.
Davao’s most sought-after street foods: Siomai | Photo by Mark Christian Jefferson Tuazon
7) Buchi
Dipped in a mixture of vinegar and spices, buchi, also known as chicharon, tastes delightfully amazing. This food has also been part of Filipino viands, served hot.
Davao’s most sought-after street foods: Buchi | Photo by Mark Christian Jefferson Tuazon
6) Fishball, squidball, kikiam and tempura
No street food list would be completely satisfying if these were missing. These are common trends in the streets as we treat them as part of our classic street junk food habit. The irresistible fishballs and squidballs are really delicious because of their bite-sized appearance. Kikiam and tempura are frequently charmers since most of the time their delectable tastes are appetizing.
Davao’s most sought-after street foods: Fishball | Photo by Mark Christian Jefferson Tuazon
5) Takoyaki
Who knew that Japanese cuisine would successfully touch down in Davao? Takoyaki is a new sidewalk dish in the metro but youngsters always crave for something new. The delicious chopped vegetables, sweet and sour sauce and the hot texture of takoyaki are succulent and appealing to customers.
Davao’s most sought-after street foods: Takoyaki| Photo by Mark Christian Jefferson Tuazon
4) Chicken skin
Who would not love crispy-fried chicken skin when sauced with simple vinegar? We bet everybody craves to taste this well-seasoned food while it’s hot and newly cooked as it delightfully satisfies our desire for salty food.
Davao’s most sought-after street foods: Chicken Skin | Photo by Mark Christian Jefferson Tuazon
3) Pork BBQ
Rich with protein, grilled and sauced pork barbeques are best when served and eaten hot.
Davao’s most sought-after street foods: Pork BBQ | Photo by Mark Christian Jefferson Tuazon
2) Kwek-kwek
Eggs definitely do not go to waste here in Davao; people are extremely filled with protein. These eggs dipped in flour and deep fried, are constant street junk food options along every pavement. They’re usually mixed with seaweed and diced cucumbers, and sauced with spiced cane vinegar.
Davao’s most sought-after street foods: Kwek-kwek | Photo by Mark Christian Jefferson Tuazon
1) Chicken Intestine/Isaw
If eating street food corresponds to watching movies in theaters, then the “isawan” areas would probably be recognized as blockbusters because of the countless isaw lovers in the city eating this food.
Davao’s most sought-after street foods: Isaw | Photo by Mark Christian Jefferson Tuazon
In an interview regarding the possible risks that youths may acquire from street foods, we interviewed Maris Christine L. Suello, RND, a Nutrition Aide from the City Health Office LGU Samal. She evaluated some street food products, explaining some of the health risks we can acquire from them.
10) Banana Cue
These contain fructose (a sugar found in fruit), brown sugar and fat for deep frying. Excessive consumption may lead to obesity, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, tooth decay and cardiovascular disease. Banana is rich in potassium, and excessive intake may lead to hyperkalemia (too much potassium in the blood) and nerve damage (if a person is having a banana-only diet).
9) Taco
Tacos have high levels of sodium, fat and cholesterol that may lead to heart diseases, hypertension, and kidney and liver diseases.
8) Siomai
Siomai has high levels of sodium, fat and cholesterol content. Excessive eating may lead to hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
7) Buchi
Buchi is made from different parts of pork and is fried in oil, so it has a very high amount of fats and cholesterol. The common illnesses we could get are hypertension, cardiovascular disease and obesity.
6) Fishball, squidball, kikiam and tempura
These are also products of frying, so if taken regularly they may lead to hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
5) Takoyaki
Takoyaki has sodium content that may lead to hypertension and cardiovascular disease when eaten excessively. It contains vegetables that may affect bone growth because excessive intake hinders the absorption of calcium.
4) Chicken skin
This also has high levels of saturated fat and sodium content. Too much eating of this kind of food may lead to hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and some types of cancer.
3) Pork BBQ
Excessive intake may lead to gout, atherosclerosis, kidney disease and diabetes. The grilling of meat may also produce carcinogenic results, which in turn may lead to cancer.
2) Kwek-kwek
Eggs are very high in protein and cholesterol, and it also has fat plus the fat from the oil since it’s primarily deep-fried. Everyday consumption may cause danger to your health in terms of obesity, hypertension, heart failure and kidney diseases.
1) Chicken Intestine/Isaw
Chicken Intestines are very high in cholesterol. Excessive consumption may lead to liver diseases, hypercholesterolemia, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Eating street food does not always mean developing the aforementioned diseases. What can cause them is the constant or regular intake of these foods, especially since they are also contaminated by mixed gases and pollution such as smoke emission from vehicles. Gastric irritation is also possible from the sauces, as they are used countless times for dipping.
Everything must be taken in consideration. As the adage says, “Lahat ng sobra ay masama,” but a healthy lifestyle and discipline in eating might grant us the flavor of more enjoyable living. Remember that our lives are limited, and health is a great factor for experiencing life at its finest.