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RiCo Corn Rice Makes Healthy, Yummy!

In pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, there is no need to deprive ourselves of the pleasure of a good meal. With RiCo Corn Rice, we can have the best of both worlds. 

Rico corn rice is made from 100% Philippine-grown corn fortified with iron and calcium. It tastes just like regular rice, but provides the nutrition of corn. Each grain is naturally rich in antioxidants and vitamin A, as well as beta-carotene and lutein for good eyesight. As a complex carbohydrate, corn provides sustained energy. It is ideal for athletes and those who lead active lifestyles. Corn is known for its high fiber content, a quality valued by the figure-conscious. In addition, corn has no cholesterol and has lower glycemic index for controlled and balanced blood sugar that is ideal for diabetics and weight watchers. 

Incorporating RiCo corn rice into the daily routine is fairly simple. Its preparation is not far from what we are accustomed to. At the recent launch of RiCo, RiCo’s very own Chef Joey dela Cruz demonstrated the three easy steps of cooking RiCo: boil, pour, and simmer. Boil the suggested amount of water. Then, pour the desired amount of RiCo. Finally, simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes. To prevent loss of water-soluble nutrients, the grains should not be washed. If a loose and fluffy consistency or buhaghag is preferred, RiCo should be cooked like pasta: boil the water, put in RiCo, and then, drain. RiCo retains its yellow hue even after it is cooked, making it very visually appealing and a hit among children.

During the launch, Chef Jessie Sincioco demonstrated the versatility of the ingredient through a sit-down meal of mesclun greens salad with prawn RiCo pops, minestrone with RiCo, a main course of pan-fried codfish fillet in pommery mustard sauce and grilled chicken breast in creamy pepper sauce served with RiCo pilaf and sautéed French beans, and RiCo crocant roll. At home, you can use RiCo in your daily favorites such as sinangag, java rice, yang chow rice, and paella.

The locally produced RiCo is a first from the Philippines. Aside from making healthy yummy, this innovation also provides increased livelihood for our farmers and develops our country’s natural resources.

RiCo is available in 1-kilogram, 2-kilogram, and 5-kilogram packs at SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket, Rustan’s Supermarket, Walter Mart Supermarket, Robinsons Supermarket, Ever Supermarket, The Landmark Supermarket, Sta. Lucia East Supermarket, Pioneer Centre Supermart, Hi-Top Supermart, Cherry Foodarama, South Supermarket, NCCC Supermarket, Gaisano Mall, and other leading supermarkets nationwide.

For more information and recipes, visit www.yummyhealthy.ph. You may also click on the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/yummyhealthylife. Follow the news about RiCo on Instagram via www.instagram.com/yummyhealthylife and Twitter via www.twitter.com/yummyhealthyph.

Meowth's verdict

Taste:  4/5 - Yummy!  It blends quite well with staple Pinoy viands (ulam).

Texture: 4/5 - Corn rice is more filling so you tend to eat less carbs.

Nutrition:  5/5  - If you have dietary restriction due to health problem, consult your physician

Price:  3/5 - About PHP 72.00 per kilo, PHP 125.00 per 2 kilos. 

Preparation:  4/5 - It should be cooked like pasta - boil, pour, simmer. It takes about 10-15min.

Should I recommend this product to friends?  Yes!  :)  

Life in Motion with Garmin

As fitness, sports, and health rapidly grip Filipinos' passions and everyday lives, technology must adapt with agility.  Garmin, a worldwide pioneer and leader in GPS, is a premier player in a new trend in technology.  Harnessing the power of GPS, Garmin has developed a broad portfolio of wearable products with a set of functionality beyond navigation.

The Vivofit, Garmin's fitness band retails at only PHP 6450.  It's perfect for those who are just getting started on the path to a healthier lifestyle.  It displays your steps, calories, distance, and even your heart rate.  It's the only fitness band that greets you with a personalized daily goal, tracks your progress, and tells you when it's time to move. Plus, it boasts of a battery life that can last up to one year.  

For those who live a more active lifestyle, there's a matching Garmin best seller for you - the Forerunner 15. At PHP 11550, the Forerunner tracks your distance, pace, and calories.  It also identifies your personal records and provides motivation along the way (which really helps, especially when you're running at a faster pace, or longer distance). 

Garmin is all about life in motion.  There are Garmin products for those who love to trek, run, bike, swim, travel, drive, or play golf.  

Check out Garmin's newly opened concept store at 3/F Glorietta 5 - and see how Garmin can help set you for a life in motion.  

Garmin Glorietta 5 

For product update, you may also visit the Garmin Center in Facebook.

Ann + Running = Forever (Version 2.0)

#AnnPlusRunningEqualsForeverVersion1  

Running has always been therapeutic.  It effectively drives unnecessary stress out of my system.  

#AnnPlusRunningEqualsForeverVersion2

I have a whole new reason to get back in shape (must), conservatively train for a half mary (nice), or aggressively train for a full marathon (extreme). 

Running has become even more personal these days, because of my new-found commitment to join the fight against the Bad 'C' - in preventive mode, of course. Whoever believes in 'an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure' is never old-fashioned.  There is a whole lot more to life.  Therefore, life is addicting.  =)

SCMS_2011 - My first offshore full marathon.  Nostalgic, as a new journey to wellness awaits.  

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#RunningAndMyFavoriteThings

I've been using these products for quite sometime.  The benefits are: safety, keeping injuries at bay, and more enjoyable runs.  

1. When I did my first three full marathons between 2011 and 2012, I was always training with the ever user-friendly Garmin Forerunner 110.  It is a complete package; it tracks time, pace, distance, and comes with a heart rate monitor.  I'm literally guarding and listening to my heart while running.  Smart.

Grabbed from Garmin.com

Just in:  I'm delighted by the news that Garmin is opening its first concept store in Manila, November 2014.  Being a runner and a self-confessed 'tapered' shopaholic (paradox), training days are more exciting with a new arm candy.  :)

2.  The best pair of running shoes I ever had (to date):  Saucony Type A5.  This pair made me believe in love at first sight...er, that I can run in minimalist shoes injury-free and live happily ever after...I felt inclined to post my first shoe review.  

However, wear-and-tear drove this lovely pair to end-of-life, and it retired from the shoe rack.  I could not find a replacement, so I am about to try its successor - Saucony Type A6.

3.  Yurbuds Inspire 300 for Women.  True to its promise - won't fall out.  It does not totally block the noise from the surroundings, for safety purposes.  

Grabbed from Yurbuds.com

4.  Injinji Performance Toesock.  Light. Comfortable. My feet are spared from blisters.

Grabbed from Injinji.com

5.  Nathan Hydration Belt.  A must-have for long distance and trail runs. What I like about it - lightweight, does not bounce, and does not cause chafing 

Nathansports.com

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Disclaimer:  This is a personal write-up; a way for me to share my experience in using the featured products.   I do not work for these brands, or any of their trade partners.

Making Strides Against the Bad 'C'

I did not go on sabbatical leave.  I was on a not-so-ordinary journey with my family.  For that, no blog entries for two months.  Today, I want to write again.  My first update in two months should be about family, faith, and doing something to prevent cancer. 

Fighting cancer is a family ordeal.  This is what we went through for my aunt.  We saw up close the face of cancer.  I pray that mankind finally finds a cure for it. We have the ability to heal our souls through strong faith and sense of community, but the physical cure to stop cancer for good may be a few years away. 

March 2014 - After her 58th birthday party, smile - keep calm - believe - stay strong. 

It has been two months since my aunt started her journey to Heaven. I can imagine her now so happy and complete.  It was her lifelong aspiration to be with God. I miss her.  One good thing about not getting over the loss of someone you love so dearly - you know that someone lives in your heart forever.  My aunt continues to inspire me in so many ways. Her life on earth was rather short, but she holds a long list of people whose lives she touched in a positive way.

My Dear Tita Lou -  a true servant leader
June 2013 - 1.5 years after her mastectomy and chemotherapy.

The fight against cancer may be quite far from over. While mankind awaits cure, there is such a thing as prevention.  We can win.

Grabbed from kksphotos.com 

I may not have funds to donate big time to cancer research, but I've got time on my hands. For two weeks now, I started going back to my wellness routine, that is mostly running.  I have been wanting to carry this initiative to the office where I spend most of my waking hours, five days a week.  I invited several people from work, who want to become or stay fit to jog after office at least twice a week.  We do get a lot of stress at work, both positive and negative. Many times have we been warned about the downside of a sedentary lifestyle, of spending long hours in the office.  Now, we are taking a conscious effort to become fit, shake off stress, and bond after work the healthy way.  I hope this counts as my contribution for now.  

My running paraphernalia are also ready to make strides against cancer.