SAMAL, Bataan — Seven contestants and village workers and officials showed their expertise in cooking various dishes with kalabasa (squash or pumpkin) as main ingredient during the celebration of Nutrition Month in Barangay Sta. Lucia here Thursday, July 27.
Presented by barangay health workers (BHW) and other workers of the barangay were kalabasang siomai, kalabasa ball, kalabaso okoy, kalabasa tokwa, kalabasa con sardines, kalabasa with egg, kalabasa empanada, kalabasa soup and kalabasa shanghai.
BHW Maricar Cosme confirmed that kalabasa was the main ingredient in the dishes.
Joining the cooking contest and representing their sitios in Sta. Lucia were Winnie Dilag of Centro, Aileen Flores of Buenalyn, Haleonor Recilla of Tumalad, Carmela Talavera and Jobert Gregorio of Highway, Ferliza Tungol of Kabyawan and Gianna Antonette Enriquez of Kamandies.
They prepared kalabasa with tokwa’t malunggay, squash sisig, ginisang kalabasa with toge, ginataang kalabasa at sitaw, kalabasa fillet, vegetable okoy and lumpiang sariwa for a budget of P100 provided by the barangay.
Rural health nurse Rachel dela Cruz explained that the cooking presentation was part of the healthy diet program of Samal under the leadership of municipal health officer Dr. Ryan James Suguitan and Mayor Alex Acuzar.
This is to introduce food affordable to all on the 49th nutrition month celebration, dela Cruz said.
Architect Carl Elvambuena Poblete, barangay nutrition scholar, explained the mechanics of the program while rural health midwife Lolita Poblete thanked the judges of the contest, participants and barangay workers for the success of the project.
BHWs, barangay kagawad, tanod and other village officials headed by Sta. Lucia punong barangay Hector Forbes participated in the program.
Suguitan, public health nurse Gerlie Atienza and provincial nutrition officer Alson Domingo were the judges in the cooking contest.
“Bale sine-celebrate kasi ang nutrition month ngayong buwan na ito, so ang tema dito is magandang nutrisyon, tapos healthy foods ang dapat ihanda sa bawat kainan. So ngayon, magkakaroon ng cooking food contest kung saan ang pinaka-healthy at pinakamasarap na pagkain ang mananalo,” Suguitan explained.
The physician said the contest will show the healthy foods that should be prepared in Samal, one of which is kalabasa that he said, is the source of many vitamins, especially Vitamin A for clear vision.
“Ang mga activities na ganito, maganda itong sabihin sa lahat ng mga magulang na nais bigyan ng masustansyang pagkain ang kanilang mga anak,” Suguitan said.
“Actually, nakakatuwang isipin na bawat isa talagang nag-isip kung papaano nila i-incorporate ang kalabasa sa meal. Nakakatuwa ding isipin na ang bata ang naging focus nila, yung acceptability ng mga bata at nakakatuwa din bilang nutritionist dietician ng probinsiya is naka-come-up sila ng ganyan na recipe which is rich in vitamins and minerals talaga,” nutrition officer Domingo said.
Domingo added that as a dietician, the dishes prepared have his approval. Nurse Atienza said it was hard for anyone to prepare food with a small budget.
“Napakahirap talaga isipin noon pero sa kanila yung P100 napagkasya nila at mayroon pang sumobra so grabe yon at thumbs up na kami sa kanila doon. Saludo kami dahil nagawan nila ng recipe at talagang masarap hindi kami nagjo-joke. Masarap and healthy talaga recommended sa mga bata. Ipa-try nila at pakainin para mapakain ang mga bata ng masusustansyang pagkain,” Atienza said.
