There has been a change in people’s lifestyle and diet during this pandemic. Homemakers continue to face the challenge of preparing nutritious and delicious meals. At the onset, quarantine restrictions affected income, mobility and access to healthy ingredients. Then, comes the challenge of time limitation balancing work from home and online schooling hence increase in reliance on food deliveries. With these, the health and nutrition of children are compromised.

July is National Nutrition Month. For this year’s theme New Normal na Nutrisyon, Sama-Samang Gawan ng Solusyon! Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) Group shares four well-balanced recipes that Filipino homecooks can try to improve their kids’ health, growth, and development in these evolving times.

“This celebration is timely to remind Filipino parents to look out for their children’s health and nutritional needs. Especially these days, diet is an important factor in maintaining our overall well-being and preventing diseases,” said APC Group Science Communication Executive Deborah S. Fajarda RND.

In support of the day-to-day meal preparation challenge for homecooks, below are easy to prepare, affordable, delicious and nutritious recipes that will help Filipino kids become more resilient in the new normal. These recipes are part of APC’s Mag-Pinggang Pinoy® Tayo! (MPPT) program that promotes the practice of preparing and serving delicious balanced meals with the right amount of Go, Grow, and Glow food. Listed below are 4 out of 60 recipes you can serve for the enjoyment and proper nourishment of your growing kids.

Egg Fried Rice with Veggies

This is perfect for the kid’s lunch box or baon as some schools start to conduct face-to-face classes. Carrot, corn, and green peas make this rich in potassium which is important in maintaining the water balance in the body. A plate of melon and a glass of milk are best to complete this meal. See full recipe here.

Stir-fried Chicken with Mixed Vegetables

A balanced, varied, and moderate amount of Go, Grow, and Glow food in every meal is key to achieving optimal nutrition. Kids will enjoy this stir-fried chicken with veggies that are made tastier with SARSAYA® Liquid Seasoning. Best served with 1 banana to make it healthier. Bonus tip: in stir-frying, add the firm vegetables first before the green leafy vegetables. Learn the recipe here.

Fried Fish in Fried Rice

Kids need to have Grow foods in their meals for them to have a healthier body. Tilapia is rich in Selenium, a mineral that helps prevent sickness and infection. Fish is not the most popular food among kids, but this recipe may just change that and make their bodies resilient against illnesses. To make this recipe more appealing to your kids, use CRISPY FRY® Fish Breading Mix and AJI-SHIO® Garlic Seasoning Mix. Check out full recipe here

Chicken Almondigas

The main ingredient of this recipe is chicken, a rich source of protein that functions to help form and repair muscles in the body. Season your Chicken Almondigas with Ajinomoto Chicken Powder Mix for that added flavor. You may use milk instead of egg to help bind the chicken meatballs. Learn the recipe here.

Check out all 60 Mag-Pinggang Pinoy® Tayo! recipes from APC Group’s Recipe Site cookmunitybyajinomoto.com. These recipes were created for Mag-Pinggang Pinoy® Tayo! Intervention Study. The APC Group and other MPPT advocates are determined to combat malnutrition especially amid the ongoing pandemic where food systems have been disrupted and have continued to affect vulnerable groups like children. The MPPT program consists of online capacity building of community health workers, online nutrition education of homemakers, and one-meal dietary supplementation among identified undernourished children.

“New normal nutrition is a call for homemakers to be more consistent and creative in making healthy food more enjoyable for your family. Support your child’s health, growth, and development by making delicious and nutritious meals that they will love.” said Fajarda.

For more information about the MPPT program and other recipes, visit ajinomoto.com.ph.