The challenge was daunting: Feed a family of five with a full, nutritious meal for P100. Five top chefs responded with their own recipes. The result gave birth to “P100 for 5” and “Love Food Give Food”—two campaigns to help address the persistent problem of malnutrition in the country.
The campaign’s proponent, Action Against Hunger (AAH), is an international humanitarian organization active in over 40 countries in Africa, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia including the Philippines.
A recent survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology revealed that an estimated 33.4 percent or 4 million Filipino children are suffering from malnutrition.
The Philippines loses P220 billion annually due to child malnutrition, according to a 2018 report from the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), Department of Health (DOH), and the National Nutrition Council (NNC). The country is ranked ninth among countries with the highest number of malnourished children.
“Children suffering from malnutrition may never attain their full possible height, have weaker immune systems, and their brains may never develop to their full cognitive potential,” said AAH country director Guy Halsey. “They will face learning difficulties in school and get sick more often. If not treated in the first 1,000 days of a person’s life, the effects of malnutrition are irreversible and will last that person’s whole life.”
Average family income
The “P100 for 5” campaign is based on a 2015 Family Income and Expenditure Survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority that placed the average Filipino family income at P22,000—41.5 percent of which is spent on food, or P300 daily, P100 per meal.
The five chefs who successfully created “P100 for 5” dishes are Rolando Laudico and his wife Jacqueline of Guevarra’s and OK Café, Chele Gonzalez and Carlos Villaflor of Gallery by Chele, and Robby Goco of Cyma, Green Pastures and Souv! by Cyma.
Goco is credited for pushing the “P100 for 5” idea to fruition.
The Laudico couple whipped up Tinola Arroz Caldo with Malunggay Pesto, and Fish Soup with Kamote Fruit and Leaves with White Rice, respectively; Gonzalez and Villaflor collaborated on Chicken Tinola with Fideaua (Noodles); and Goco created Kare-Kare Rice with Binagoongan Tokwa.
The dishes, though essentially spartan, are notable for their healthy ingredients.
The recipes may be accessed on www.lovefoodgivefoodphilippines.org, with easy-to-follow videos.
“We invite more people to take on the challenge and submit their recipes to us,” said AAH fundraising and resource development manager Dale Nelson Divinagracia. “The submitted recipes will be shared with our beneficiaries during the health, hygiene and sanitation promotion sessions that we conduct in all our projects.”
‘Charity Dishes’
“Love Food Give Food” is an offshoot of “Restaurants Against Hunger,” which AAH launched in 2016 to enlist the participation of food establishments and foodies to help alleviate malnutrition in the Philippines.
Now the campaign is expanding “to get the support of all types of food establishments like kiosks, bakeries, cafés, carinderias, even home-based online food vendors,” said Divinagracia.
“Love Food Give Food” runs from Oct. 1-Dec. 1.
Participating establishments will offer one or more items on their respective menus as “Charity Dishes.” A portion of every purchase of the Charity Dishes will be donated to AAH projects.
The following establishments have confirmed their participation: Alba Restaurante Español, Baker & Cook, Buffalo Wild Wings, Bulgogi Brothers, Café Mediterranean, Chef Laudico OK Café, Chelsea Kitchen, Chotto Matte, The Coconut Club, Corner Tree Café, Cyma, D’ Doux Cafe & Patisserie, D’Kada Cafe & Bistro, Denny’s, Fish & Co., Friends & Family, Gallery by Chele, Green Pastures, Holy Grill, Italianni’s, Izakaya Sensu, Kabila, Kats Happy Food, Krazy Garlic, La Petite Fromagerie, The Lost Bread, Modern Shanghai, Mom & Tina’s Bakery Café Providore, Plank, Saboten, Sunkissed Café, Terraz, Texas Roadhouse, TGIFridays and Village Tavern.
“Love Food Give Food” runs Oct. 1-Dec. 1; visit lovefoodgivefoodphilippines. org; Facebook:@LoveFoodGiveFoodPH and @ActionAgainstHungerPH; Twitter: #EndHungerPH