Staff of the NEDA Regional Office (NRO) VIII showed off their cooking skills during the Meal Prep Interdivision Challenge on 20 July 2022 at the Felipina Hall, NRO VIII, Palo, Leyte. Representatives from the five divisions donned their aprons and whipped up non-cook dishes within 40 minutes. It was a contest on who could make the tastiest and healthiest dishes held as the NRO VIII’s way of celebrating the 2022 Nutrition Month.
Each division was tasked to prepare a main dish, dessert, and healthy beverage judged on four criteria: 1) taste and nutritional value; 2) visual appeal; 3) overall presentation; and 4) cost-effectiveness.
The Finance and Administrative Division with its roasted chicken with buttered marble potato and mixed seafood soup (main dish), garden of Eden (dessert), and everyjuan’s drink (beverage) was the grand champion of the event. Special awards were also given to the best main dish, best dessert, and best beverage.
Judges of the competition were Ms. Analyn Crosa and Ms. Darlene Ayesha Lendero of the National Nutrition Council VIII, as well as Ms. Michelle Montilla of the NRO VIII canteen. Ms. Crosa, a licensed nutritionist and dietician, likewise discussed various food and nutrition concepts to the NRO VIII staff.
The National Nutrition Month is annually celebrated in July. With the theme, New Normal na Nutrisyon, Sama-Samang Gawan ng Solusyon! this year’s celebration calls for strengthened nutrition interventions and solidarity towards improving nutrition as the country shifts to the new normal amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Article by: Veronica Riel, DRD
Photos by: Knulp Aseo, DRD
