Shaping Food Consumption Habits for a Sustainable Food Future: Knorr Celebrates Nutrition Month 2019

The numbers are alarming. According to a 2016 AIA survey, eight out of every ten Filipinos neglect to eat vegetables on a daily basis, resulting in the Philippines being one of the unhealthiest countries in Asia. This number translates to the next generation as 7.5 million children aged ten years and below are considered malnourished. This month, these health and nutrition issues are tackled head on... 

...and it's about time too. Knorr Philippines celebrates Nutrition Month 2019 with a range of efforts aimed toward helping families prepare nutritious and delicious meals in sustainable ways. Knorr also takes the lead in shaping food consumption habits, partnering with the WWF-UK to produce the Future 50, a list of vegetables, grains, cereals, seeds, legumes, and nuts from across the globe which can have a positive impact on both people and the environment. It's a timely advocacy that deserves more than a second look. Read on and find out more on what Knorr has in store for Nutrition Month and discover why #NutritiousIsDelicious...

It's been a secret of many home kitchens, the secret ingredient in many sumptuous homemade meals. For over 50 years, Knorr has been inspiring Filipinos to create flavorful dishes fit for the whole family with kitchen staples like the brand's popular sinigang mix, pork and chicken broth cubes and various condiments. By adding flavor to everyday dishes like those with vegetables, Knorr helps unlock both enjoyment and nutrition increasing the likelihood of children eating their greens. The battle against malnutrition begins on the table...

...one meal at a time. As a leading global brand in food products and services, Unilever continues to provide a wealth of expertise, knowledge and experience to our tables (for more on Unilever, see my post, Food News: Unilever Food Solutions Shares Emerging Food Trends). Backed by extensive research, each product that bears the brand name is a result of years in R&D to assure only the very best is served to families around the world. Realizing this responsibility, Unilever continuously aims to find better ways of improving lives. And it all starts with healthier meals for the family.

And Knorr's various products have always been an indispensable and integral part of many family kitchens for generations. Home-cooked meals become even more flavorful with Knorr, and using fresh and healthy ingredients as part of the daily meal plan becomes so much easier. This Nutrition Month, Knorr unveils a comprehensive plan that tackles the issues of health and malnutrition empowering mothers, you can call them Home Category Managers since it's not an easy job being a mom, with everything they need for preparing easier, healthier, more nutritious yet affordable meals for their children. 

Unilever Philippines Vice President for Sustainable Business and Comunications Ed Sunico (L) and Marketing Director for Foods Kristine Go (R) welcomed guests to the launch of Knorr's Nutrition Month at the Chefmanship Culinary Studio in Unilever's corporate offices.

"As part of our celebration of Nutrition Month, we're excited to bring forward our action plans to guide Filipinos to eating healthier, as well as to help usher in a more sustainable food future," explained Kristine Go, Unilever's Marketing Director for Foods. Through the pioneering Knorr Lutong Nanay Nutrition Program, Knorr empowers moms to take charge of their family's nutrition, showing them how to prepare tasty, nutritious and affordable meals. The innovative program is supported by key partners including Kabisig ng Kalahi, DSWD's 4P's and DOST-FNRI for effective implementation at the grassroots level in countless communities nationwide.

At the launch of Nutrition Month, Knorr Philippines invited real moms to participate in the discussion of health and nutrition...

...sharing their own personal experiences, key learnings and valuable insights on the daily challenges of providing healthy meals for their children. That day, the prestigious panel included Ms. Jing Castaneda, media celebrity and DOST-FNRI Ambassador (L),  Knorr mom and Nutrition Advocate Bettina Carlos (R)...

...and Mano Amiga founder and president, Lynn Pinugu (L). The lively discussions added a real and personal touch to the issues of health and nutrition, it is after all, a serious concern for many of today's families. Each mom shared their own tips, with Knorr as an integral part of their family's meal plans.

The panelists agreed that it's important to introduce children to healthy meals from the very start. Providing healthier yet affordable meals is one way to fight malnutrition. But Unilever has a bigger, much broader view of the battle. As part of the brand's commitment to finding ways to improve the way we enjoy food and preserve the planet, Knorr shared that it is on track to achieve its target of 100% sustainably sourced raw materials and announced its goal to use 100% recyclable packaging by 2025.

"At Knorr, we understand the call from our consumers to be more mindful of the materials we use, from the food items themselves to our packaging. And so, we are committed to addressing these concerns in the near future," explained Kristine Go. Unilever management then formalized their pledge and commitment to help fight against malnutrition...

...by signing on the wall for all to see. You too can make that pledge by providing your family with healthy and nutritious meals. The battle against malnutrition must be waged on all fronts, involving every family and community, starting with each home and meal on the table. This Nutrition Month, Knorr is right there with you at the frontlines.

In between sessions, tasty bites were served at the launch of Knorr's Nutrition Month 2019 including fresh fruits in keeping with the nutritious vibe of the celebration. 

And to show how easy it is to add fresh and healthy ingredients to any meal, Knorr invited Vanjo Merano of the popular blog and YouTube channel, Panlasang Pinoy for a cooking demo. A Filipino based in Chicago, Vanjo Merano still connects with his roots by recreating the flavors he grew up with through his various social media platforms. His passion for comforting Filipino flavors have made him an online sensation and the virtual recipe book for Filipinos both here and abroad for easy-to-make and authentic local dishes. Vanjo Merano's recipes are simple and easy to follow, making him the perfect fit for Knorr's healthy and affordable meals. 

In line with Nutrition Month, Vanjo Merano of Panlasang Pinoy included vegetables for his demo with his Chicken and Pork Lumpia with Malunggay and Tofu and the tasty Pechay Stir-Fry.

Making healthy and nutritious meals don't have to be complicated or expensive. Just follow the lead of Vanjo Merano of Panlasang Pinoy. The use of malunggay in his lumpia recipe shows how easy it is to make any meal healthier. Malunggay, or moringa, is also one of the WWF-UK Future 50 foods selected for its health benefits and environmental impact. In fact, many of the Future 50 foods can be found right here...

...all you have to do is look at the fresh produce section of your neighborhood markets or supermarkets. And now, you too can prepare healthy and affordable meals at home. With the Knorr Lutong Nanay Nutrition Program in collaboration with Kabisig ng Kalahi, DSWD's 4P's and DOST-FNRI, moms can now prepare 63 different meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner spread across 21 days for a comprehensive meal planning guide. The easy recipes use fresh vegetables, including some of the items from the WWF-UK Future 50 list like radish, bean sprouts, moringa, okra, mung bean, purple yam or ube and kamote.

Simple, easy and affordable recipes that's tasty, flavorful and nutritious, it's a meal plan offering healthier options to help moms everywhere win the battle against malnutrition. Why 21 days? Studies suggest it takes at least three weeks to reinforce a habit. And you can start today with the Knorr Lutong Nanay Nutrition Program, with 63 recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner good for 21 days. It's all about shaping food consumption habits for a healthier and sustainable food future. And these recipes will show you that #NutritiousIsDelicious.  

Health and nutrition is everyone's concern. This Nutrition Month, and every month after, it's time to prioritize a healthier meal plan for the family using fresh vegetables. And you can always count on Knorr to be your secret ingredient in the kitchen...

For more information about Knorr's Lutong Nanay Nutri Program and the full Future 50 Foods List, visit https://www.knorr.com.ph

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