According to a 2016 AIA survey, eight out of ten Filipinos neglect to eat vegetables on a daily basis, resulting in the Philippines being one of the unhealthiest countries in Asia. This unhealthy habit has also permeated to the next generation as 7.5 million children aged ten years and below are considered undernourished.
To help combat this prevalent issue, Knorr celebrates Nutrition Month with a range of efforts aimed towards helping families prepare nutritious and delicious meals in sustainable ways. For 50 years, Knorr has been inspiring Filipinos to create flavourful dishes fit for the whole family, with kitchen staples like the brand’s sinigang mix, pork and chicken broth cubes, among others. By adding flavour to everyday dishes like those with vegetables, Knorr helps unlock both enjoyment and nutrition, increasing the likelihood of children eating their greens.
“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,” says Kristine Go, Unilever Philippines’ Marketing Director for Foods. Through its 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. With the help of key partners, Kabisig ng Kalahi, DSWD’s 4P’s and DOST-FNRI, the program allows moms to discover 63 ways to cook and eat healthy, by simply adding vegetables like radish, toge, and camote, among others. These recipes spread across 21 days help diversify the diets of Filipinos, and show nutritious dishes do not have to be complicated or expensive.
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 that 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,” adds Go.
Future 50 Foods
In addition to using sustainable raw materials, Knorr also recognizes its role in shaping food consumption habits. It has partnered with 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. The list includes ingredients we should eat more because they are nutritious, have a lower impact on our planet, can be affordable, accessible, and taste good.
Because most calories are consumed in savoury meals, Knorr and WWF-UK ensured the ingredients recognized in the Future 50 could be incorporated in these dishes, some of which are easily found in the Philippines, including moringa, okra, purple yam or ube, mungbean and bean sprouts. With these vegetables, a wide range of dishes, such as sinigang, tinolang manok, pork monggo, and lumpia, can be prepared.
To show how easy it is to incorporate the Future 50 to any homemade dish, Knorr invited Vanjo Merano of the popular blog and YouTube channel, Panlasang Pinoy to stage a cooking demo and taste testing session. A Filipino based in Chicago with a deep passion for cooking and a continuous craving for his homeland’s cuisine, Vanjo’s blog has become a go-to hub where Pinoys both here and abroad can get easy-to-make, delicious recipes which remind them of the distinct local flavor of home. For his audience, Vanjo prepared Chicken and Pork Lumpia with Malunggay and Tofu, Green Bean, and Pechay Stir Fry.
Through its efforts during Nutrition Month and beyond, Knorr empowers everyone to start their journey towards a sustainable healthy change, one delicious dish at a time.