Cooking With Laurin CocoMCT and Philips Airfryer

As a part of my fitness goal this 2015, I am also making a conscious effort on what I cook and eat. Effort talaga on my part because I cook for my whole family and usually I only prepare one or two dishes for all of us and I really don't have the time and energy to cook or make a healthy dish just for myself so why not make healthier dishes for the whole family?

One of the things I received last Christmas was a Laurin CocoMCT gift basket. Laurin is pure goodness from coconuts. We all know the versatility of the coconut, I'm sure we've all learned what each part of a coconut tree can turn into during elementary, how refreshing and yummy its juice and meat is.

Laurin Gift Basket that came with an apron, wooden spatula, coffee beans and trail mix!

Laurin is made from coconuts grown naturally and locally in the Philippines. Chemrez Technologies, Inc., the leading manufacturer of personal care products from coconut oil, is also the manufacturer of Laurin. Chemrez uses a multi-step distillation process in order to produce CocoMCT (MCT means Medium Chain Triglycerides). It takes five times more coconut oil to produce one liter Laurin, making it one of the purest and healthiest vegetable oils in the market. Laurin is not a form of virgin coconut oil, it is 100% CocoMCT, which is the best part of coconut oil.

Laurin has so many health benefits. It can be used not only for cooking but also taken orally, with your salads, for your hair, and so much more!

I have been using Laurin as our cooking oil. I've always been curious if cooking with coconut oil will affect the odor or after taste on the food and it's totally odor-less and no after taste. Yay!

Cooked carbonara with Laurin. It was so yummy, my family loved it! Also used it to cook other dishes, it's less greasy and oily!

And also last Christmas, BOS's gift was a Philips Airfryer! I've been wanting to buy it for the longest time and after much prodding from BOS (yes, pinilit niya ako bilhin gift ko), I finally went to Anson's and bought one of our biggest investment in the kitchen! My only agreement with BOS was I'll be the one to wash after using para walang sisihan!

I've cooked fried chicken, nuggets, lechon kawali, porkchops, longganisa, and veggies! Well, not everything spells healthy hihi but I wanted to try if chicken and lechon kawali still comes out crispy with an airfryer.

Airfried chicken: mix salt, pepper, spanish paprika, and Italian spices, dip in mayonnaise then coat with Tempura flour

I had to try the chicken skin immediately to check if it's crispy! Haha! Notice the missing skin?

We also put the airfryer into test by cooking lechon kawali. No cooking oil was used at all and still came out crispy, less greasy and so good! BOS was pretty happy with this!

Airfried Bacon is LOVE! We rarely have bacon at home so this was a treat for us!

Of course veggies! I have to admit, we've been airfrying more meat than veggies. This one was a winner: Laurin, Rosemary, and Parmesan Cheese. I had a full bowl myself.

I've yet to try kamote fries, french fries, veggie chips or if you have healthy recipes using the airfryer. Please do share!

For more information on Laurin, check out:
Facebook: Laurin
Instagram: @my_laurin

More more information on Philips Airfryer, check out:
Facebook: Philips Philippines
Also check out the hashtags #airfryer #airfryerrecipe #airfryerclub on Instagram for recipes!

A Practial Parent With Philips Avent

LI always thought parenting was going to be easy. Now with two kids, I am still a work-in-progress. It's hard specially when R is in his terrible twos. Nakakaloka!

There are days when this little kid is draining my energy. Our house always looks like a tornado passed through it. He likes to climb up and down tables, chairs, anything thta he can climb up to! He throws tantrums like there's no tomorrow, he throws things (not at us ha) playfully.

Super kulit little boy!

And having a super active toddler means we have to be careful with everything and make sure we have a safe home. From the tables, chairs down to his feeding bottles (because he likes to throw them after drinking milk!)

Our favorite Philips Avent Sippy Cup and the new Philips Avent Natural Feeding Bottle. 

Nowadays, parents need to be practical. We used glass bottles with Y and I learned my lesson. Y broke one and the yaya also broke one or two bottles! Ouch! So when R ws starting to use feeding bottles when I went back to work, I made sure we only use BPA-Free Philips Avent bottles. I love the new shape and if you're using the old Philips Avent Duo breast pump, this bottle can fit your pump!

For now, no glass anything for both of my kids. Being practical doesn't necessarily mean we are not giving the best, we just want our kids to be safe.

What practical parent tips do you have? Share naman! :)

Let's Make A Difference On Yolanda-Affected Communities! Vote Na!

Philips launched a campaign last October 2013 challenging the people to make "meaningful innovations" that will help improve the quality of life for the Filipinos. It has been over three months since Typhoon Yolanda ravaged  the Visayas region and up until now lives of these typhoon victims aren't back to normal yet, power and network aren't totally restored, damaged infrastructures and more.

In response to the needs of these communities affected by Yolanda, Royal Philips in the Philippines decided to refocus its ‘Meaningful Innovations’ program in the country to define and deliver meaningful innovations to affected communities in the Visayas through idea generation and sharing.

And Last January, a group of Philips executives and representatives from its institutional partners, screened, deliberated, and shortlisted the top five (5) ideas from all contributed entries based on a set criteria.

Go to http://www.meaningfulinnovation.asia/philippines/gallery/ and vote on what you think will help the Yolanda survivors 

the most!

To give you an overview, here are the top five (5) innovations proposed by Filipinos, to be chosen by Filipinos, to be built in collaboration with Philips (in no particular order):
· Mini bus clinics with PRISM (Problem Identification for Systematic Management) App by Paolo Fajardo and Johanna Morales, Metro Manila Old buses will be transformed into mini health clinics, and equipped with basic diagnostic equipment to assess an individual’s physical well-being. In addition, the mini-clinic will be equipped a psychological assessment tool/application, to allow a cursory check on a person’s state of mind, and identify possible solutions to the problem.

· Solar charger stations by Geoffrey Panganiban, OFW from Dubai
This idea advocates for the use of solar energy, to provide light to communities that have limited to zero access to electricity. Families will be given rechargeable batteries that are powerful enough to light up at least three light bulbs, and use the solar charging station as a means to recharge the batteries.

· Patient Healthcare Management System by Daniel Galang, Metro Manila
This is a secured data network where healthcare volunteers/professionals in typhoon-stricken areas can transmit their observations and/or diagnosis on a given patient to a pool of medical experts based in Metro Manila, who can provide further medical advice. This idea aims to address the need for accessible healthcare in areas that no longer have hospital or clinics.

· Night Light Project by Illac Diaz, Metro Manila
My Shelter Foundation aims to create an improved version of their solar night lamp by utilizing Philips’ lighting technology. In addition, they hope to train residents of typhoon-affected communities to develop these lamps, to provide them with an alternative and sustainable means of livelihood.

· Interactive Screen Booth by Marika Lacanilao, Metro Manila This unique edutainment health installation will provide commonly sought-for and up-to-date health information, which is especially useful for those who are suffering with health ailments post-Yolanda.

Public voting period will start on February 19 up to March 2. For more information on the “Innovation that Matters to You” program in the Philippines. Please visit www.meaningfulinnovation.asia/philippines or www.facebook.com/PhilipsPhilippines.

Meaningful Innovation with Philips

Everyday we hear or read news about poverty, calamities, sickness or corruption and sometimes we wish there's a way for us to help. Sometimes a wild idea comes to us and we don't know how or will it ever become a reality. Well, your idea can become a reality with the help of Philips.

Philips has officially kicked off its “Innovations that Matter to You” campaign, which encourages people from all walks of life to submit ideas on how to address three of the most crucial problems of the country today – the need for livable cities; proper nutrition for families; and easier access to quality healthcare solutions. 

The Philips Innovations campaign initially kicked off in Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Korea, but has been launched in the Philippines to adhere to the company’s goal of providing people with meaningful solutions that can ultimately improve the quality of their lives. Additionally, the Philips Innovations campaign in the Philippines seeks to leverage on technology as an important tool in making life better for everyone. 

During the free mobile health check for seniors program the Philips Thailand team administered free checks to senior citizens, helping to lessen the impact of chronic diseases and reduce pressure on the healthcare system 

Philips launched the first interactive mobile application about breast cancer in Indonesia last year. This 2013, the Philippines can be a part of this movement to bring health innovations to life.

Personally, I have lots of ideas I want to see come into life. I think that this is such a great campaign. We often think of something but don't have follow through. We dismiss that idea because we don't have the means or we think it's ridiculous and that's where Philips comes in.

The SoMoms had an opportunity to meet with Philips's Country Manager, Fabia Tetteroo-Bueno and Singapore GM Angela Oh and campaign manager Gela Isidro. They are very excited about this project and so are we!

Submission of ideas can be done on the Innovations campaign website www.meaningfulinnovation.asia/philippines. Ideas should be realistic, impactful, and should fall under one of the three idea categories given. A select panel of subject matter experts shall then shortlist six ideas that meets Philips’ objective of creative positive change. The individuals/organizations behind these six suggestions   will then undergo a mentorship workshop with some of the Philippines’ respected visionaries, to further fine-tune their ideas, and make them more actionable. Philips will then select one winning idea, and implement the chosen innovation in 2014.

As a company, Philips is focused on offering innovative products and services that help improve people’s health and well-being.  This objective is actively supported by its three sectors – Lighting, Consumer Lifestyle, and Healthcare.

And so if you have any idea or something you want to be innovated, submit your entries now! I'll be submitting my idea/s later! Oh and the winner not only gets his/her idea implemented, he/she gets to bring home a kabuhayan showcase!!! Ahihihi!

To know how it works, simply go here:

http://www.meaningfulinnovation.asia/philippines/how-it-works/

For more information on the “Innovation that Matters to You” Campaign, please visit the Philips Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PhilipsPH and the official campaign website at www.meaningfulinnovation.asia/philippines.

Thank you again Philips for having the SoMoms over!