Appetizing meals from the best ayuda recipes in town were elegantly showcased by the ten (10) contenders from each barangay of the Municipality of Baras, Rizal, during the “Grand Finals of the Municipal Cooking Contest.”
The “Okoy Veggie with Tuna Flakes and Egg” dish of Ms. Antonieta Espiritu bagged the highest score with Php 7,000.00 prize. Each okoy contains health-giving kalabasa, repolyo, kamote, bell pepper, malunggay, kinchay, canned tuna and egg on top. It was served with turmeric rice sprinkled with chopped malunggay leaves.
The “Sardines Meatballs” of Ms. Emelita Al Omari and “Ginataang Tuna” by Ms. Maribel Lorica were awarded as 2nd and 3rd placer, with 5,000 and 3,000 cash prize, respectively
The contest is part of the 48th Nutrition Month Celebration of Baras, Rizal with the theme, "New Normal na Nutrisyon, Sama-samang Gawan ng Solusyon" through the initiatives of the Municipal Nutrition Office headed by MHO/MNAO Dr. Allen M. Malabanan.
The contest also endeavors to create more nutritious recipes out of pandemic ayuda products, and to encourage the value of healthy diet for all particularly for the child's growth and development. Hence, different kinds of vegetables which are readily available and can even be harvested in backyards were cooked together with the ayuda canned goods such as sardines, tuna, mackerel.
DNPC Ms. Marie Claire Miranda of Rizal Provincial Nutrition Office, DMO Ms. Belinda Alcantara of DOH - PDOHO and DMO Mary Emerene Pingol of NNC 4A -- were invited to evaluate the dishes presented by the contenders. The recipes were evaluated based on their nutritive content, palatability, presentation, originality, costs, ease in preparation, and cleanliness during the recipe preparation.
Here are the ten (10) Ayuda recipes judged during the contest:
- Sardines Curry by Ms. Jasmine Destura of Barangay San Juan
- Kare Kare Sardines by Ms. Rowena R. Torres of Barangay San Miguel
- Sinigang na Tuna by Ms. Rosalinda C. Alejo of Barangay Evangelista
- Sisig Sardines by Ms. Jerelyn Bautista of Barangay Rizal
- Odong Sardines by Ms. Odessa M. Gilbuena of Barangay San Salvador
- Sardines Burger Steak with Malunggay by Ms. Ma. Aira Amaro of Barangay Mabini
- Ginataang Tuna by Ms. Maribel Lorica of Barangay Concepcion
- Okoy Veggie with Tuna Flakes & Egg by Ms. Antonieta Espiritu
- Ginataang Mackarel na de Lata by Ms. Mary Grace Andres of Barangay Santiago
- Sardines Meatballs by Ms. Emelita Al Omari of Barangay Pinugay
Let us remember that vegetables are a good source of dietary fiber and antioxidants, provides various health benefits and prevents chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, stroke and more. Eat well and live well.
By: Mary Emerene P. Pingol
