For Carmina Villarroel-Legaspi and Zoren Legaspi, keeping their family together is their number one priority. Although they are part of the most in-demand celebrities today, they make sure to spend as much time as they can with each other and with their twins, Cassy and Mavy.
One way they keep their relationship strong is during meal times. “It actually takes us so long to finish eating because we would spend hours at the dining table talking,” Zoren reveals. Carmina explains that this is part of their parenting strategy. “This is our time to catch up with each other, especially now that the kids are growing up and leading their own lives. This sets a healthy communication within the family.”
Having good communication is also a vital part of their relationship. Zoren shares that they make sure the family feels comfortable in expressing their needs and giving feedback to each other, from their fashion choices to their kids’ romantic lives and even giving comments on Carmina’s cooking skills.
This has become such a habit for the family that even when one of them is out on a shoot, they video call together. “We spend time just joking around or watching TV while we eat and we talk about what we are watching,” says Mavy. Cassy says, “The conversations make our food taste even better. I think it is like that with all Filipino families.”
Carmina also makes sure that what they eat together is a healthy meal. She uses fresh and healthy ingredients in her cooking. “I like to cook because I know that what I am serving my family is good for them. I use the fresh ingredients and good cooking oil—Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil, to make sure that our family enjoys heart-healthy food while we bond over happy mealtimes,” Carmina shares. And as the first family ambassadors of Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil, the Legaspis’ love for food serves as an inspiration for fans to experiment with heart-healthy dishes anyone can make at home.
Here are some of their family favorites that are easy, healthy, delicious, and can be inspirations for your family cooking time together:
Chicken brown rice: Carmina combines brown rice and quinoa to create this healthy carb companion to fried chicken wings. Both brown rice and quinoa contain fiber that can help you feel full longer which can be helpful in weight loss.
Pork adobo with egg: Carmina makes this umami-rich dish creamy and delicious by adding coconut cream or gata which has antioxidants that contain essential amino acids.
Salpicao fried rice: This is a good way to use leftovers, with the meaty flavor of the salpicao complementing the brown rice and quinoa combo that is rich in antioxidants.
Strawberry banana muffin: The secret to this moist and yummy muffin is to use lots of ripe bananas and strawberries. Aside from the fruits making the muffins sweet without having to use too much sugar, bananas and strawberries are good sources of fiber, potassium, and antioxidants.
Lemon butter chicken: This protein-packed saucy dish is a creamy delight that pairs well with rice for a filling meal. Adding green leafy vegetables like spinach makes the dish even more nutritious and delicious.
Cheesy garlic mushroom buttered chicken: Mushrooms are low-calorie and a good source of fiber, protein, and antioxidants. Using mushrooms is also a good way of adding umami without the msg. The cheesy garlic flavor adds happiness to every meal.
Carmina, Zoren, Mavy, and Cassy make sure to use Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil every time they cook. Canola oil has heart-healthy monounsaturated fats which don’t clog arteries. Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil is also a good source of Vitamin A for good eyesight and has high amounts of Omega 3 and 6, which are good for the heart. It is the lowest in saturated or bad fat among vegetable oils, has one of the highest heat points that makes it ideal for frying, and is ideal for any type of cooking.
Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil is available at leading supermarkets and online shopping sites. To know more about Jolly Heart Mate, visit Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil Facebook, Lazada, Shopee, and acemarket.ph.