Members of the Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA) gathered, once again, at the Julius Maggie Kitchen, at the Ground Floor of the Nestle Building at Rockwell Center, Makati last May 13 to mark the 2nd PANA Cooking Class. They were treated to a day of re-discovering the ideals of "Wellness" through the enjoyment of simple pleasures which include relaxing, being with family and friends, and cooking scrumptious and healthy dishes.
The function kicked-off with an enthralling talk on "Wellness" by Zenaida Velasco, a licensed nutritionist, dietician, and psychologist. She is the secretary of the Nutritionists – Dietician Association of the Philippines, one of the pools of experts of the National Nutrition Council, and author of The ABC’s of Nutrition. During her presentation, she pointed out that "Wellness" does not only pertain to the absence of disease but more importantly, it pertains to being physically, mentally, and socially well. "There are two things that we need to remember when we talk of wellness - good nutrition and physical activity. One without the other will not be successful," she said.
She also disclosed interesting facts about milk and coffee. Milk, for instance, should not only be taken during the growing years but throughout the entire life, as well. "Calcium, the vital mineral contained in milk, does not only help build and maintain strong bones and teeth but is also essential in the regulation of heart’s rhythm, blood clotting, and the transmission of nerve impulses throughout body."
Coffee, on the other hand, when taken in moderation (up to six cups per day) brings about many health benefits to the body’s system. Backed by scientific research, coffee was found to contain hundreds of compounds that may help cure some of the most prevalent diseases of our time. And one of the most exciting discoveries is the significant presence of "antioxidants" in coffee beans. These "antioxidants" are proven to help reduce the chances of heart diseases and cancer. They are also known to protect against "oxidative stress" by "mopping-up" damaging free radicals that are implicated in cancer, heart disease, degenerative brain disorders, and ageing.
The 30-minute talk on "Wellness" was then followed by a cooking demonstration that perfectly complemented the theme of the event. Guest Chef Annalisa Margarita Villaflor Mariano, a chef instructor at the Center for Culinary Arts, Manila, Head Chef of C2 Classic Cuisine, and R&D Chef of Cravings’ Group of Companies, entertained the audience with an appetizing line-up of refreshing salads and gourmet sandwiches. After the cooking demonstration, all attendees had the chance to sample the sandwiches and salads prepared by the guest Chef. They were also given loot bags filled with Nestle products such as Nestle Coco Evap, Nestle Corn Flakes, Nido Fruitmilk, and packs of the magic ingredient that was used throughout the entire cooking demonstration – Maggie Magic Sarap seasoning mix.
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