A Healthy Alternative from Goldilocks!

I love healthy meals. Thanks to Goldilocks for bringing these new healthy option for dine-in or to go set meals. No need to worry about calorie counting. 

With nutrition month in full swing, Filipinos around the country are asked to be made more aware of their eating habits. Often constricted to fast food and unli-rice options, hungry Filipinos habitually tend to neglect their nutritional needs opting instead for unhealthier, more filling options.

Seeing how nutritional value takes a back seat in comparison to how filling a dish is. Goldilocks, the country’s number on bakeshop, aims to combat this with the launch of their all new low calorie Pinggang Pinoy Meals made specially for nutrition month!

Treat yourself to a filling low calorie meal with Goldilocks’ Pinggang Pinoy Meals! A selection of specially chosen ingredients which are the perfect mix of healthy and hearty! 

Choose from options such as Savory Pinakbet and Daing na Bangus, delicious Sautéed Vegetables and tasty Chicken BBQ, or scrumptious Monggo paired with mouth-watering Daing na Bangus. All these come with a serving of steaming white rice, healthy fruit gelatin and bottled water, giving you lots of variety to for a healthy and balanced diet. 

Grab these healthy meals at any Goldilocks Fullstore nationwide and for more information, you may also follow Goldilocks on Twitter or Instagram at @GoldilocksPH, on the Goldilocks Facebook page, or at the official Goldilocks website at www.goldilocks.com.ph

Men’s Health: Tips to Optimize Your Nutrition

By Susan Bowerman M.S., RD, CSSD, CSOWM, FAND – Sr. Director, Worldwide Nutrition Education and Training, Herbalife Nutrition

The old saying that “men are from Mars and women are from Venus” seems to apply when it comes to nutrition.

While women tend to fret about their weight and pore over food labels, men often have a more relaxed attitude when it comes to their diets. Maybe it’s because most guys burn through calories a lot faster than women do – so they figure they can get away with eating whatever they want.

Going Beyond Body Weight

The assumption seems to be that as long as their weight is in check, they really don’t have to give much thought to what they eat. But that’s not really the case.

Body weight is only a part of the picture. How much body fat you have, where that fat settles on your frame, along with the overall quality of your diet – all contribute to your wellbeing.

Let’s say you don’t do much exercise, but your weight is reasonable. Don’t let that fool you: you could still be carrying around way too much body fat. And while excess body fat is a concern for everyone, guys are more likely to carry that excess weight around the middle, which is much more damaging to health than the fat that women tend to accumulate on their hips and thighs.

So, while keeping your weight down is key, you need to do it the right way.

What Should Men Eat for Health and Good Nutrition

Simply eating less only works when the nutritional quality of your diet is above par. Eating less of a poor diet may cut calories, but you’ll still be selling yourself short on nutrition. Instead, you want to pack the most nutrition you can into each bite by keeping your focus on healthy food: vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and whole grains.

Place an emphasis on heart-healthy foods. If most of your carb calories are coming from chips and soda, look instead to foods like oats, beans, berries, plums, broccoli, and carrots. They’re great sources of soluble fiber and can help to help keep cholesterol levels in check.

Also consider seafood that’s low in fat and calories, yet rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. These should be on your menu as often as possible.

Finding Time to Invest in Your Wellbeing

One of the biggest barriers to taking care of yourself is time. You may find yourself so busy that it becomes too easy to skip meals or grab something on-the-go. But skipping meals usually backfires, and you just wind up overeating at your next meal.

And if you don’t make the time to exercise, you’ll gain more belly fat and your sleep will likely suffer, too. Then, you might find yourself turning to sugary foods and drinks to boost your flagging energy – which just puts more weight on you, and the cycle continues.

If you’re breakfast skipper, set a goal of having a healthy meal a few mornings a week. If you don’t have time to sit down for breakfast, grab a carton of yogurt and a piece of fruit, or whip up a protein shake with some milk and fruit and take it with you.

If you tend to grab meals on the run during the day, think about packing your lunch a couple of days a week or preparing a home-cooked meal once or twice a week. It will give you a lot more control over your what you eat…and how much.

Lastly, try writing down what you eat for a couple of days. It’s the best way to come face-to-face with your eating habits – for better or for worse. There’s nothing quite like a good hard look at the skipped meals, the salty snacks or a severe shortage of fruits and vegetables to spark a diet makeover.

About Herbalife Nutrition

Herbalife Nutrition is a global nutrition company whose purpose is to make the world healthier and happier. The Company has been on a mission for nutrition - changing people's lives with great nutrition products and programs - since 1980. Herbalife Nutrition offers high-quality,  science-backed products, one-on-one coaching with an Herbalife Nutrition Independent Member, and a supportive community that inspires customers to embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle.

Herbalife Nutrition’s targeted nutrition, weight-management, energy and fitness and personal care products are available through its Independent Members in more than 90 countries.

Herbalife Nutrition supports the Herbalife Nutrition Foundation, a non-profit organization that       assists community organizations focused on providing good nutrition. Herbalife Nutrition is also proud to sponsor more than 190 world-class athletes, teams and events around the globe.

Herbalife Nutrition has more than 8,300 employees worldwide. To learn more, visit IAmHerbalife.com.

HYDRO FLASK : My Constant Companion

I'm a certified "Water Person"! I can't leave the house without bringing my own tumbler of cold water. I've tried different brands, shapes and sizes. I also lost quite a number as well. But this time, I got a new friend, with reliable qualities that I've always been looking for a water bottle.

I got my first blue Hydro Flask tumbler from the Global Wellness Day 2019 event we attended. Hydro Flask displayed their beautiful and durable looking tumblers and played as one of the sponsors and exhibitors for the wellness celebration. I actually fell in love with their color combinations and shades. But my eyes first laid to this powder blue one.

Aside from my daughter as my constant companion, my Hydro Flask tumbler became an additional companion as well. We have this habit of always bringing our own drinking water anywhere we go. We believe that "Water is Life" and it's a basic need that we should not fail to bring with us all the time.

We went out of town with our family, still I brought it with me.

Just the size of a water bottle can meet your daily drinking water needs, while maintaining the heat or cooling of water, while convenient to use, feel comfortable, size suitable for car cup holder wide mouth design is also suitable for most remote mountain water filters.

Even at my Aunt's place, I still use my tumbler beside me while watching my daughter do her morning swim.

I also brought my Hydro Flask even to the beach where I know I would really need some cold refreshment. So scared to get thirsty. We need to hydrate, hydrate and hydrate especially in this super hot season.

 The stage mother should always bring along the Hydro Flask while watching and waiting for my young lady swimmer's training session.

 At home, I still use my Hydro Flask so I don't have to keep on opening the fridge or the freezer to get my cold drink.

 Even when I commute, I don't mind having added weight in my bag with me. As long as I have my cold water, I'm good.

Hydro Flask has a powder coating, which provides you with a firm grip feeling. Less chances of slipping through my hands, unlike other water bottles, The powder coating is combined with high-grade TempShield insulation to prevent condensate from forming outside the bottle and provides you with a refreshing water supply system every day. 

It's TRUE! 

COLDER. HOTTER. LONGER. HAPPIER.

I only put half full of ice cubes then water, it's already good for the whole day "baon" to go bottle. Plus the wide mouth design is so convenient for drinking water and easier to fill with bigger ice cubes. 

I one time left my tumbler with little ice and water overnight just sitting on the dining table without air condition. Still, I woke up with cold water. The quality of the water inside was not actually affected with the outside temperature of our hot dining room. That's amazing!

I got the Wide Mouth 32 oz bottle. Just the right size of a water bottle that can meet my daily drinking water needs, while maintaining the cooling of water, while convenient to use, feel comfortable, size suitable for my hand bag, wide mouth design is also suitable for most water filters.

Because we support the #NoPlastic #AyokoNgPlastic campaign, the use of our Hydra Flask is one of our many ways to avoid unnecessary use of plastic bottle or container. You can try it too. Stay healthy by bringing water with you anywhere you go while helping our environment.

Hydro Flask is the award-winning leader in high-performance insulated products from beverage and food flasks to the new Unbound SeriesⓇ soft coolers. Believing that every adventure starts with two simple words: Let's Go!. Hydro Flask creates products that facilitate an active and joyful lifestyle.. #HydroFlaskPH

Hydro Flask is available in leading malls and online stores nationwide. 

For more information and updates, like and follow https://www.facebook.com/hydroflaskph/

We love using our Pacific Blue Hydro Flask!

UNFPA launches State of World Population 2019 report

Despite remarkable achievements in the past five decades, much more must be done to break the barriers that prevent women, men and couples from fully exercising their reproductive rights and choices, says new UNFPA report released today

At the turnover of the State of World Population 2019 Report, entitled “Unfinished Business: the pursuit of rights and choices for all” were (from L-R) Salvacion A. Collao, POPCOM Finance Chief, Lourdes Nacionales, POPCOM Administrations Chief, Susan Codotco, POPCOM Information Management and Communications Division Chief, Lolito R. Tacardon, POPCOM Deputy Executive Director, Dr. Juan Antonio A. Perez III, POPCOM USEC, Iori Kato, UNFPA-Philippines Representative, Vicente Jurlano, UNFPA-Philippines National Program Officer-Population and Development and Pamela Aine, UNFPA-Philippines International Operations Manager.

The year 2019 is unique as it marks two important milestones in the field of sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights: 50 years since the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) began operations globally with Filipino national Rafael Salas as its first Executive Director, and 25 years since the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo where 179 governments agreed on a call for all people to have access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including voluntary family planning, and safe pregnancy and childbirth services.

Much has been achieved in the Philippines since 1969. The average number of births per woman was 6.0 in 1973.  Today it is 2.7^[1], even though the country has the highest total fertility rate in the ASEAN region.  In order to reach the national target of 2.1 average number of births per woman under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), the Philippines needs to step up its efforts.

According to the 2017 Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey, about 17 percent of currently married women aged 15-49 have expressed intention to space or limit their children but are not using any method of family planning.  Such proportion of unmet need for family planning services is highest among adolescents at 28 percent. 

To finish the unfinished business of the ICPD, governments, activists and stakeholders will rally at the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 to be held on 12-14 November to sustain the gains made so far, and fulfill the promise of the ICPD agenda. Most countries, including the Philippines, need to build on the foundation of the past achievements to reach those who have been left behind and make sexual and reproductive health and rights a reality for all.

World Vision Inks Partnerships with Corporate Donors to Support Children’s Programs

DepEd Malabon, World Vision and Procter & Gamble officials during the launch of Pag-asa sa Basura campaign

World Vision Philippines together with several corporations continues to help thousands of Filipino children in need through partnerships aimed to support the organization’s child-focused projects in the Philippines.

In line with the back-to-school season, World Vision and Procter & Gamble (P&G) Philippines launched the “Pag-asa sa Basura” campaign, a sustainable waste collection and recycling system targeting several areas in Metro Manila. The pilot implementation of the project will be done in 25 schools in Malabon and Quezon City.

The participating schools will be outfitted with school-based materials recovery facilities (MRF) for various solid waste materials including sachet packaging. The students who will be participating in the campaign are encouraged to bring a certain number of sachets to receive incentives such as school supplies. Furthermore, the profits that will be collected from the MRF will be used for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) programs like improvements in their handwashing facilities and WaSH education.

This initiative will not only be benefiting the children but also saving the environment with the goal of preventing at least one million pieces of sachets going to the ocean. Educators and students will also be trained on the principles of solid waste management specifically recycling.

Earlier this month, World Vision together with Elev8 Media Inc., an out-of-home advertising company, signed an agreement to support the NGO’s (non-government organization) awareness drive for child sponsorship. Elev8 Media Inc. donated 90 lamp post banners in key areas of Makati City, Taguig City and Paranaque City featuring photos and testimonials from former sponsored children and donors of World Vision.

DepEd Malabon, World Vision and Procter & Gamble officials during the launch of Pag-asa sa Basura campaign
(From left) Mr. Jun Godornes - Resource Development Director of World Vision Philippines, Ms. Cynthia Ayles - Schools Division Superintendent/ OIC of DepEd Malabon, and Ms. Anna Legarda - Head of Communications of Procter & Gamble

The partnership aims to increase public awareness about World Vision’s Child Sponsorship Program, an initiative where donors commit to give monthly sponsorship to provide the basic needs of a child supported by World Vision.

Another partnership forged by World Vision is with Domescape, a private glamping vacation home in Nasugbu, Batangas. They recently conducted the “A Star of Something Good”, a stargazing event for the benefit of World Vision.

Domescape's willingness to support the children thru World Vision and the owners’ generosity as seen during the launch resulted to one child being sponsored by the corporate partner and two sponsorship pledges from the guests who attended the event. They look forward to doing more of these events that will help increase awareness and move people to support for World Vision’s children’s programs.

”World Vision Philippines is so blessed with the success of all of our initiatives with our partners and on behalf of our organization, I would like to thank them for their unwavering support to our advocacy. Let’s continue to work together for the Filipino children,” said World Vision Philippines Executive Director Rommel Fuerte.

To know more and support World Vision Philippines activities, visit www.worldvision.org.ph. You may also follow /worldvisionph on Facebook and @worldvisionphl on Instagram for updates.

About World Vision

World Vision is a global Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

The Philippines marks World Population Day on July 11: Half of the journey made since the 1994 Cairo Population and Development Meeting

The Philippines joins the World Population Day on 11 July, with its theme, “25 Years of the ICPD,” looking back at the country’s gains and challenges since the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, Egypt.

In 1994, Filipinos made up 1.21 percent of the world population. 25 years after, it increased to 1.40 percent. ¹ With some 108 million people, the Philippines is now the 13^th most populous country in the world. ² Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicate that the country’s population continues to increase in numbers, approximately three babies born per minute, but the rate of growth has declined to 1.76% annually since the 2015 population census. Under this growth rate, the country’s population is expected to double in the next 39 years.

Significant progress has been made from 1994 for instance in- Total Fertility Rate (from 4.1 in 1993 to 2.7 in 2017) and Modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (from 25% in 1993 to 40% in 2017).³ Gains were due to continued government efforts in advocating for Family Planning (FP) programs, despite hurdles from various groups.

Moreover, policies pursuant to the ICPD agenda in the country were also implemented, including the full implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law as one of the priority socioeconomic agenda; issuance of Executive Order No. 12 to achieve and sustain zero unmet need for modern family planning by 2022; and the approval by President Rodrigo Duterte of the intensified implementation of the National Program on Population and Family Planning (NPPFP).

25 years after ICPD, the country still needs to address sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), including on gender-based violence. While significant strides have been made, particularly in the area of civil rights as girls acquire more education and enter the workforce, they continue to face challenges in the private sphere of their homes, where their decisions and actions are often questioned and sometimes met with coercion and violence. These are the stark inequalities that hold back women in realizing their full potential.

26 percent of ever-married women of reproductive age still experience violence from their husbands or partners, whether in the form of physical, sexual or emotional abuse (National Demographic and Health Survey, 2017).

The 2019 State of the World Population (SWOP) Report placed emphasis on gender issues as one impediment in the advancement of SRHR. As Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Natalia Kanem stated, “We must push back against forces that would see us return to a time when women had little say in reproductive decisions or, for that matter, in any area of their lives. The fight for rights and choices must continue until they are a reality for all.” 

Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) Undersecretary Dr. Juan Antonio A. Perez III believes that attitudes towards gender roles have consequences, on how individuals and couples form their families, perceive female employment, run the workplace and other institutions like church and school. “People-centered development where individuals are empowered has been the core of our advocacy — from educating girls, engaging men and women, and recognizing the role of the bigger society we all live in,” Usec. Perez said.

The ICPD in Cairo, Egypt, set forth a Programme of Action signed by 179 countries, embarking on a long and difficult journey to reproductive health, including voluntary family planning and safe pregnancy; women empowerment and gender equality.

“UNFPA congratulates the Philippine Government in its achievements and commitment to fulfill the promise of the ICPD Agenda,” said Iori Kato, UNFPA Representative in the Philippines.

“We look forward to the Government renewing its commitment at the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25: Accelerating the promise, a high-level conference organized on 12-14 November 2019 to finish the unfinished agenda of the full implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action as an integral way for sustainable development,” he added. 

POPCOM and UNFPA are proud to have been part of the 25 fruitful years of the ICPD, taking on extra significance this year when both agencies mark their 50th founding anniversary. Usec. Perez asserted, “We are only on the halfway point of our own journey. We must persevere to empower millions more Filipino families.”

We invite everyone to join us in this year’s World Population Day national celebration on 11 July 2019, 10 AM at the Bahay ng Alumni, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. This dissemination forum will be an avenue to present to the public the results of the ICPD@25 National Review.

Dinner at Cafe Romancon