Cool meals for kids for the hot summer

The healthy alternative is always the wiser option. Instead of deriving vigor from a sugar- induced high, the better choice is to drink milk for energy and health. The advantages of drinking milk include a host of benefits such as good bone health, stronger teeth, smoother skin, and improved immunity. But in the summertime when the kids are on vacation and spend more time at home, the challenge lies in making milk a more attractive choice

How to do it? By finding new ways of serving milk. At the Nido Fortified Summer Workshop, Nestle Center chef Tess Sutilo shows us how. “These are recipes that are easy to assemble,” she says. “When kids help their moms in the kitchen, meal times become more meaningful and more than just part of a routine. The shared experience is a means of teaching new skills and a form of productive play.”

Nido is a brand that is recommended for children who are over three years of age. It emphasizes the importance of good nutrition, and is a fortified formula that incorporates calcium, vitamin D, and over 20 essential ingredients that a growing child needs.

“As a brand, Nido Fortified wants to be your partner in helping your child be his best,” says Ellen Isturis, consumer marketing manager for Nestle Philippines Dairy, Health and Nutrition Solutions Department. “Nurturing the child means giving him not only expert nutrition, but also learning opportunities made fun and meaningful by involving his family.”

She adds, “This cooking workshop shows parents several ways to incorporate milk nutrition into their children’s diet by making milk time more fun and something to look forward to.”

Nido’s “10 Signs of Good Nutrition” can be a useful guide for parents who are watchful of their children’s nutritional well-being. The parameters of good nutrition include adequate height and weight; strong bones; healthy skin; good vision; good muscle development; healthy teeth; shiny hair; strong and healthy fingernails. A good night’s sleep is also important since growing children also need plenty of rest; and a well-nourished child needs to be active and aware because childhood is a critical stage for learning.      

Cooking up a feast for kids: Susie Aquino, brand manager for Nido Fortified; Jel Leyte, marketing promotions executive; and chef Tess Sutilo, Nestle in-house recipe and food developer

Of course, teaching a child how to prepare nutritious meals or snacks for himself and the entire family is another good way of “learning by doing.” Apart from developing competence, experiential learning in the kitchen can yet be another way of promoting critical thinking and encouraging creativity. It can boost your child’s confidence and strengthen his sense of independence.

Flavored pastillas

1.5 cup Nido Fortified

0.5 cup condensed milk

0.25 cup melted butter

Add 0.5 cup grated cheese for cheese flavored pastillas, or

add 0.5 cup Milo for chocolate pastillas

White sugar (for rolling the pastillas)

Cellophane paper (for wrapping)

Chunky Chicken Salad Sandwich: Great as a snack or a light meal

Sift powdered milk into condensed milk. Add in melted butter. Mix and blend well. Choose desired flavoring and add to the mixture. Knead and set aside 5-10 minutes before shaping into small balls or cylinders. Roll in sugar and wrap in cellophane.

Chunky chicken salad sandwich

2 cups chicken breast fillet, boiled and shredded

1 medium onion, chopped

1 apple, chopped

1 tsp. Maggi Magic Sarap

0.5 cup mayonnaise

0.5 cup Nestle All Purpose Cream

Salt, pepper and sugar to taste

Lettuce

Bread

Sliced tomato

Sliced cucumber

Combine chicken, onion, and apple in a bowl. Season with Maggi Magic Sarap. Set aside. Mix mayonnaise, cream, salt, pepper, and sugar on a separate bowl. Toss prepared chicken mixture with the dressing and mix well to fully incorporate. To assemble sandwich, arrange lettuce on a piece of bread. Top with chicken salad, and add tomato and cucumber. Serve immediately.