Food, culture and the Pinoy appetite

MANILA, Philippines – You could say that among Filipinos, the dining table is the true heart of the home: eating as a family is often a household rule, and no celebration is complete without an indulgent spread. Add to that how Pinoys love buffets and “unli-rice” and it’s easy to see why many grown-ups struggle with eating right and staying fit. 

On Thursday, July 16, Rappler hosted a roundtable discussion on Filipino food culture. We invited an interesting mix of foodies to help us probe deeper into the question of “Why do we eat what we eat?” 

We discussed what values Filipinos attach to food, why it takes center stage in celebrations, and basically, what’s the taste and flavor of the quintessential Pinoy food trip.

We also touched on the topic of health and food dilemmas. Aside from carb-laden rice, typical Pinoy fare like sisig and lechon are laden with fat, but we can’t say no to them. Thus, a nutritionist also joined the panel to share tips on how we can celebrate and eat responsibly.

Our guests were:

Claude Tayag, Chef and Owner of Bale Dutung, Pampanga;

Dr. Leonora Panlasigui, 2nd Vice President and External Affairs Head of the Philippine Association of Nutrition (PAN).

This roundtable discussion was hosted by Sam Oh. – Rappler.com