A Day Filled with Fun, Food and Fitness with Jeunesse

Being a mom is no joke. I’m pretty sure all moms out there will agree. Whether you’re a fulltime or career-oriented mom, the demands tagged along is always on the superlative level!

For this article, I want to highlight someone very special who’s the SUPERWOMAN of our home — my mother. She’s a fulltime mom and the master of cleanliness and strictness since we’re young. She never gets tired of doing everything for our family, even for my own family. She takes care of my kids whenever I’m not at home. Honestly, I don’t have the guts to do all that she can. I think she has that magical wand! Hahaha!

So just in time for her birthday, I treat her and brought along at the Jeunesse Anion event held in Marriott Hotel. To give her a break on her special day with food, fun and fitness! What’s more exciting was that she had the chance to do Zumba with the Dance Diva, Ms. Regine Tolentino! Yehey!

So here’s what we had during the event:

FITNESS – We love Zumba so much! We usually join the weekend sessions in our village. We’re not one among those hardcore fitness enthusiast but we take it as a way to burn calories and make our body active. Dancing and sweating at the same time provides that enjoyment. Speaking of Zumba, who else can be more credible when it comes to this, but no other than the Dance Diva, Ms. Regine Tolentino! There was even a time I enrolled in her studio for Zumba specifically We’re so ready to shake those calories and be inspired with her moves as she never runs out of energy batteries! Bring it on Mama Carmen!

FUN – What can be more exciting that spending this kind of event with my Mama! I want her to see and experience what I usually do. She had fun meeting my co-bloggers who greets her along. I’m sure this one’s for keeps! I let her pose everywhere and take photos even if she’s ashame to do it. Who cares, after all we’re here to have fun and we did it!

 

FOOD – after a tiring Zumba session, we all looked forward on the food to be served. They served healthy meals for everyone! Yummy!

We also had the chance to witness the cooking demo of mommy Chef Len Santos-Ding.

She presented series of guilt-free and easy-peasy one pan-meals!

Recipes are as follows:

Peanut Butter, Muesli and Fruit Parfait

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

6 tbsps blueberries

2 tbsps peanut butter

4 tbsps plain yogurt

1 sliced banana

1/2 cup Simply Cereal Apple & Cranberry Muesli

 Directions:

1. Whisk together the peanut butter and yogurt.
2. In an individual serving bowl or water goblet, layer half of the bananas. Top with 3 Tbsps of blueberries.   Top with half the yogurt mixture and sprinkle with 3 tbsps of muesli.  Repeat to make 2 layers.
3. Keep it chilled until serving time.

Golden Quinoa and Bokchoy Salad

Serves 3-4

 Ingredients:

1 1/2 tbsps Doña Elena Pure Olive Oil

1 tsp minced garlic

1/2-cup mushrooms, sliced

1 cup (170 g) uncooked quinoa

1/8 tsp cumin

1/8 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp turmeric

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups water or vegetable stock

1/2 cup red and green bell pepper, diced

1/2 cup purple cabbage, julienned

1/2 cup chopped flat parsley

2 bundles bokchoy, sliced thinly

1/2 tsp grated dried shiitake mushroom

 

Citrus Dressing:

juice and zest of 1 small lemon

juice and zest of 1 orange

2 Tbsp Dona Elena Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Garnish:

1/4 cup mandarin oranges, drained

Directions:

1. Put quinoa in a fine mesh strainer. Rinse under running water until water runs clear.
2. Heat oil in a saucepot over medium heat. Saute garlic.  Add mushrooms and cook for about a minute.  Add quinoa.  Add more oil if needed.  Quinoa grains must be coated with oil so it will be fluffy when cooked.  Let it simmer then cook for about 15 minutes.
3. Once cooked, add the bell peppers, purple cabbage, flat parsley and bokchoy. Grate some dried shiitake on top for added umami.  Cover so vegetables will soften in the steam as you make the dressing. 
4. To make the dressing, whisk together lemon juice, orange juice and olive oil. Or you may put the ingredients in a small bottle and shake well.  Season with salt and pepper.
5. Pour over the salad while still hot. Add mandarin oranges.  It may be served hot, room temperature or cold. 

 

 

 

 

One-Pot Cheesy Pesto and Vegetable Pasta

Serves 2

 Ingredients:

 2 ½ to 3 cups broth or water

120 g Doña Elena Al Dente Spaghetti, uncooked

1 small onion, julienned

1 cup (60 g) broccoli florets

½ cup (30 g) asparagus, cut into 2 inch pieces

4 cloves of garlic, sliced

1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half

pinch of red pepper flakes

½ tsp sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

1 tbsps Doña Elena Pure or Extra Virgin Olive Oil

½ cup (80 g) green peas

½ cup Clara Ole Cheesy Pesto Sauce

3 Tbsps grated parmesan cheese

1 cup greens (kale, arugula, malunggay leaves)

 

Optional:  100 g peeled shrimps

 

Directions:

1. In a large pot, add 2 ½ cups broth, spaghetti, onions, broccoli, asparagus, garlic, and cherry tomatoes. Season with red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.  Drizzle with Dona Elena Olive Oil and set over high heat. 
2. Once it starts to boil, set the timer to 7 minutes. Toss once in a while using tongs.  
3. After 7 minutes, pasta should be almost cooked. If broth is drying out, add ½ cup more.  Add peas and Clara Ole Cheesy Pesto.  *You may add shrimps at this point if you wish. 
4. Once it’s done, adjust seasoning if needed. Toss in greens such as malunggay leaves.  Add grated parmesan cheese.

 

Chef Len believes that a deliciously healthy meal doesn’t have to be boring by incorporating real and whole ingredients that are not hard to prepare at all. One among her tips: “Choose easy to prepare recipes so you don’t get discouraged halfway through and opt for fast food.”

 

 

 

Jeunesse Anion understands that moms have a plateful of things to do both at home and at work, but busy is not an excuse. Besides, we think that being at our absolute best self is the ultimate gift we can give to our family. And when during that special time of the month comes, make sure you’re armed with Jeunesse Anion sanitary napkin and liner that helps to eliminate bacteria, odor, and relieve menstrual discomforts such as cramps and dysmenorrhea.

 

Since it’s also the first anion sanitary napkin available in the retail market with quick absorbing top sheet and breathable material made of virgin pulp cotton, there’s actually no excuse to feel crappy about exercise and preparing your own meals. Much more, its non-liniment material helps fight vaginal infections or irritations that’s guaranteed safe for pregnant women and new moms.

 

Thanks Jeunesse Anion for this fun filled event well spent with co-bloggers and of course, most especially with my mom!

I salute your advocacy to provide sanitary pads and liners that help to do more for your wellness, by empowering women to get into the habit with practical healthy living upgrades.

Thanks for making this day positively better!

Cheers!

Jing, The Mommy Raketera