Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Food Revolution Conquered the Philippines

Have you ever been part of something big?  Something amazing you would want to shout it out and have people stopping and listening.   If you did, would you dare tell us about it?   If you haven't,  and would want to do, what would it be about?   I hope it's something that could spark a change for the better and not the worse.  
Since I'm a food blogger, I would definitely shout out something about my interest in food, good and health-giving food that is, and I guess you can call it passion.
I eat, therefore I cook.   I love my kids, thus I cook for them, ensuring a beneficial choice of yummy but packed in nature-providing health goodness.
 So I say and shout, with my right fist high,  I'm with Jamie Oliver on his movement to empower everyone with the awareness about eating healthy and his fight against obesity and  diet-related diseases. 
On Jamie Oliver
If  you might be wondering who the heck is this Jamie Oliver.   Let me give a short story of him.
A not so fresh face in the culinary world, Jamie Oliver began work at the critically acclaimed River Cafe in London for three years. After appearing on television as part of a documentary on the River Cafe, Jamie was called the next morning by five of the top production companies in England. Jamie went with Optomen Television to produce the first series of the enormously successful Naked Chef. He has since gone on to produce Oliver's Twist and multiple specials.
He is one of the best chef shows that I watch in Lifestyle channel.   I remembered him, riding on a motorbike cruising at old country-sides of Italy, and cooking for a group of friends.

On Food Revolution 
 Food Revolution is a movement  created by Jamie Oliver to inspire, educate, and empower people everywhere to stand up for real food. Thousands of people worldwide are participating to raise awareness on preventing diet-related diseases, and to arm people with the knowledge and tools to make healthier food choices.
This movement aims to change the way people eat by educating every person about food, giving families the skills and knowledge to cook again, and motivating people to stand up for their rights to better food, which in turn will fight the epidemic of diet-related diseases.
  
It will bring together millions of people and inspire.   At its heart is a powerful strategy to get people cooking again and going back to basic.
So what is  Food Revolution Day?
Last  May  19,  was declared globally  as the Food Revolution Day!  It’s  a chance for people who love food to come together to share information, talents and resources; to pass on their knowledge and highlight the world’s food issues.  All around the globe, people will work together to make a difference. Food Revolution Day is about connecting with your community through events at schools, restaurants, local businesses, dinner parties and farmers' markets. 
Joan Manalang (the Artist Chef) is the Ambassador in the Philippines for Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution. 45 countries participated for this revolution and there are hundreds of application submitted to be the ambassador of each country from all over the world. The Food Revolution team have chosen a person in every country to be the the contact for all the information needed for the big day
Outside the auditorium, a mini-bazaar was present, where there were organic vegetables, fruits, salad dressing, and other sustainable market products, and of course the Food Revolution T-shirt.
Everyone were treated to a bounty of native "kakanin" or Filipino delicacies, and a tasty tuna pan de sal sandwich and  beverages from fresh fruits.
 A short introduction was presented by Chef Gigi Angkaw, Continuing Education Program Manager Chef of  Center for Culinary Arts (CCA) and was the one who presented all the guests who shared their part for this year's Food Revolution. 
A cooking demo of water-based food was given by Tinette Miciano, chef and owner of  Twenty One Plates.    Imagine cooking vegetable filling for "lumpia" with a glass of water only, yep, no oil, not even a drop.   I did find it intriguing too at first, but to my surprise it tasted the same without the oily feel. 
Mommy, blogger and contributor to Yummy Magazine, Marie Pascual gave a talk about her way of feeding her family with healthy and real food as opposed to artificially prepared food, even baby food.  She also taught us how easy it was to make a yogurt in the comfort of our home.    Catch the recipe at her blog Kitchen Kitchiekoo.

Chinggay Andrada, one of the trainers of the Pinoy edition of  The Biggest Loser, shared more information about maintaining a fit bod with eating rice, in a minimal quantity though, and replacing part of the rice with vegetables, her term, extending the rice.   She shared a good rice recipe, something that I would cook over and over,  which would be very helpful to my daughter who is diabetic,  Turmeric Rice, a cross-over of  chow fan and java rice.   According to her and to studies, turmeric has a capacity to lower blood sugar.   Will be sharing that to you in my future write-ups and hopefully I could make a study about turmeric (Dilaw na luya) and some other herbs and spices beneficial to diabetics.

Finally, the day ended with a talk about Zero Waste on Cooking Ingredients by CCA owner and President   Suzana Guerrero.   Concluding with an invitation to their Craving Kaingin Eco Center, her advocacy in sustainable livelihood and ecological consciousness.


The launch was a success and this campaign hopefully would spread like fire, and educate Filipinos especially the children, who are now exposed to a lot of junk food and with fast-foods becoming more like a fad, it's easy to lure them not to eat the right food.  As parents,  it is our responsibility not only to cook for them dishes without preservatives and that are from fresh produce but to let them value the essentials in eating right and living healthy happily!
So I raise my spoon!  FOOD REVOLUTION! 
Will you? 
Feel free to copy and paste this picture on your blog or FB
to show your alliance or support.
Add Food Revolution Philippines on Facebook 
 

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