Low-cost veggie recipes for 4Ps beneficiaires

Low-cost veggie recipes for 4Ps beneficiaires

By Elsa S. Subong, Monday 30th of April 2012

ILOILO CITY, April 30 (PIA6) -- Six cooking enthusiasts in the region showed how vegetables can be prepared in such a way that they get the taste preferences of even those who are not fond of veggies.

The six were actually contestants in the regional recipe contest held last April 27, by the National Nutrition Council (NNC-6) in the region, designed to develop low-cost, easy to prepare, and nutritious vegetable dishes.

NNC Regional Coordinator Nona Tad-y said the contest provided a venue where contestants showcased traditional vegetable recipes, preferably the indigenous ones, prepared in different ways.

The recipe development contest was anchored on the theme, “Pagkain ng Gulay ugaliin, Araw-araw nating Iha-in.”

The winning recipes will be compiled into a recipe book, printed and given to household beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps.) Thus, the recipes must be low-cost, easy to prepare and nutritious, Tad-y said.

She added that the recipes are also meant to contribute to improved nutrition, especially among the poorest families.

Three top winners were chosen by a panel of judges composed of nutritionists from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Department of Agriculture, health and nutrition advocates, members of the Regional Nutrition Technical Committee and some members of the media.

Winner of the first prize of P10,000 was the recipe titled: Vegetarian Guinataan with whole corn kernel, costing less than P70, prepared by Arlyne C. Briones of Kalibo, Aklan, which was the judges’ unanimous choice.

The ingredients of the recipe included squash, string beans, whole corn kernel, spinach, coconut milk and coconut water, spiced with onion, ginger, lemon grass and chilli peppers.

Getting the second prize of P8,000, was the crispy fried mixed vegetables, ingredients costing only P50, prepared by Nena G. Gandullas of Bgy, Lucmayan, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras.

The recipe, which had shredded green papaya and squash, with margarine and sauce, got the judges’ approval because of its crispiness which can attract children at snack time.

Besides, NNC saw the possibility of the recipe being sold as snacks in schools that can augment income of an enterprising housewife.

The third top recipe, getting P6,000, was the Squash Malungay Burger with Malunggay Shake, which the ingredients, though costing about P150, was considered a good recipe that can compete with fastfood burgers.

The recipe, prepared by two young enthusiasts Maria Rose Balcoba and Jean Charis Lampa of Cabatuan, Iloilo, had for its main ingredients chopped squash, powdered malunggay, eggs, tomatoes and cucumber, with salt, sugar and pepper.

The judging was based on Palatability/Taste (25%), Use of Nutritious Ingredients (25%), Originality (20%), Visual appeal (15%) and Ease of Preparation (15%).

NNC’s Tad-y said the winning recipes will be part of the recipe book where the winners will be acknowledged as their recipes are expected to be used by the households, not only in 4Ps areas but by those in depressed communities, guided by local nutrition workers.

The recipe development is already part of the celebration of 2012 Nutrition Month this July. (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

Cabatuan.com - Timeline 2012