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If you are in for an adventure paired with lengthy, quirky, brutal honest thoughts then you are in the right place.

My name is Arisa and was a cosplayer for 12 years in Malaysia before settling down in Kyoto, Japan. Exploring Japan full time has been a long time dream of mine, so let's explore it together!
For sponsorship, collaborations and engagements: arisa1443@gmail.com

Columbia Asia Master Chef Challenge 2015

As a person that's been a regular visitor in hospitals, i know how well and disgusting hospital foods can be. Really super unappetizing oil ladened food served during each meal makes one easily question their nutritionists working there in the hospital for letting such food to be even be served to the patients. That's my experience thus i dread being admitted to the hospital, i would try very hard to escape by making all sorts of excuses so i'll get discharged A.S.A.P. Seriously, i'm fine with outpatient treatment and at least i don't have to eat their gross food *shudders*.
When i first heard that Columbia Asia Hospital was somewhat different in terms of the food they serve, that amazed and caught my immediately.
Hospital serving good food? Really?
Aside from the super lavish private hopsitals like Prince Court in Kuala Lumpur don't think i've heard anyone raving about hospital foods at all lol. Seriously.

Nine chefs from across Columbia Asia’s facilities cooking up diabetic-friendly Malaysian favorites in an effort to make healthy eating a mission possible. Hailing from Bukit Rimau, Cheras, Nusajaya, Petaling Jaya, Puchong, Seremban, Setapak, Shah Alam and Taiping.

Not a topic everyone would likely to bring up during a conversation unless it's something really bad that needs sharing haha.
Just last week, Columbia Asia Hospital had their Master Chef showdown (fuyoh) in conjunction of World Diabetes Day to re-create famous local cuisines loved by all Malaysians but in a diabetic friendly version. Because diabetic patients have to give up alot of local foods due to their condition and it isn't just only just diabetic people, those with other illnesses as well are forced to give up their love for local dishes due to it's "RICH" ingredients such as santan (coconut milk), sugar, oil and fat content.


I too have already given up on eating foods like Asam Laksa, nasi kerabu, nasi lemak (except my mom's), nasi dagang, curry and many others ever since i started monitoring my diet.
Strict yes, not even once i allow myself to indulge in these sinful delicacies in fear of my waist line expanding. My case can be called too paranoid already lar due to my eating disorder history and mental issues.
When it comes to food and health, most Malaysians themselves would always close one eye towards this matter in early stages until doctors themselves have to ban them from eating certain foods to avoid them from suffering further health complications. Sucks, i know because my parents too are currently going through that stage like many other elderlies lol.
Diabetes isn't only something that attacks older people but also young children due to family medical history, i too didn't know about this till just recently.

Look at all those mouth watering dishes, diabetic friendly and almost guilt free versions of our local favorites. All created by chefs of different Columbia Asia Hospitals around Klang Valley & other states that participated.

Through this Master Chef challenge hosted by Columbia Asia Hospital, it allows their local chefs to test their creativity and ability to meet such requirements in order for patients to enjoy their favorite local dishes again, which i think is a great idea!
A very unique test to prove that eating healthy is just not limited to western style servings of  boring salads, vegetarian and gluten free food. According to Columbia Asia dietician, Kong Woan Fei, 
"It's all about making smarter choices in selecting ingredients replacing he sweetened and rich ingredients, with more fibrous and less sweet alternatives. And the key is not to make deprivation as your mantra but rather, moderation and substitution. We as Malaysians need to learn to eat more balanced meals by opting for healthier alternatives,” Kong added. 

(L-R) Nathalie Seroux, Regional Marketing Manager of Columbia Asia; Kelvin Tan, CEO of Columbia Asia South East Asia and Chef David Lee celebrating the moment with the 1st runner up Chef Ravindran a/l Mathavan, CAH Seremban; Champion Chef Fauziah Pakwan Chik, CAH Setapak; and 2nd runner up Chef Mahmor Abas, CAH Nusajaya.

At the end of the challenge, Chef Fauziah Pakwan Chik from Columbia Asia Setapak (near my old house!) was crowned the champion by the judges for her stir fried brown rice ala kerabu with chicken roll and percik sauce while Chef Ravindran a/l Mathavan from Columbia Asia Seremban was declared the media's favourite with his version of the ever loved nasi lemak. I am dying to try these dishes when i can soon!

Now i have awesome news people, if you guys are also interested to try these mouth watering dishes can now do so as Columbia Asia will be opening their doors to all Malaysians as a normal healthy visitors (or patients) to savor them and at the same time by dining there each meal (RM4) paid for, the funding will proceed to be donated to Diabetes Malaysia organization.
Howe ever if you are an in-house patient of Columbia Asia Hospital, your meals are free :)
Not only that, cooking demonstrations will be conducted in respective facilities by the chefs for those are keen in learning how to cook and also a free copy of compilation Recipes from the Columbia Asia Master Chef Challenge 2015 and other bonus healthy recipes are available to be brought home from participating Columbia Asia hospitals- 

  • Bukit Rimau
  • Cheras 
  • Nusajaya
  • Petaling Jaya
  • Puchong
  • Seremban
  • Setapak
  • Shah Alam
  • Taiping.

Okay, enough food talk and time to share about the other exciting activities Columbia Asia has in store for the children. Besides the cook-off mentioned above, this year’s Diabetes Awareness campaign also focuses on giving a chance for children with diabetes to voice out through Columbia Asia’s short story and poetry competition. 
Diabetic kids under 12-years old catagory are encouraged to express themselves in writing, sharing what it is like to live with diabetes. The theme of this competition is ‘My Life as a Diabetic Child.’ Cash prizes valued at a total of RM19,000 will be awarded to the winners.

To find out more about Columbia Asia and its diabetes campaign, please visit its website at www.columbiaasia.com or its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/columbiaasia

If you are a social media junkie like me, feel free to share your thoughts about Columbia Asia's campaign and Hashtag them:
  • #CADiabetes
  • #CADiabetesChildLife2015 - “My Life as a Diabetic Child

"Remember to stay healthy and get yourself checked annually!"




XOXO,

30 comments:

  1. It's a good way to educate people bout diabetes through food. I stay nearby Columbia Asia, Bdr Puteri. I'll definitely give it a try.

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    1. Go try them out babe! Heard the nasi kerabu is da bomb too!

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  2. Speaking of Bad hospital food, i can totally feel you. Hahah. Looks like Columbia Asia is doing a good change now :)hope the rest can follow suit

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    1. Thank god your stay in hospital was short babe, at least can go home to enjoy good home cooked food now ;)

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  3. I tried all the dishes and they were amazing... tasted like hotel food... not hospital food.....

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    1. Huuuuu..now im sad that i didn't make it that day T_T /sobs

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  4. Aww, i love the idea of it! and of course the fact that they have high end food served for visitors and for the patients ;)

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    1. Doesn't have to necessarily be high end, as long healthy and edible lol because more than half the local hospitals here serve crappy food. ugh.

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  5. Interesting post of hospital food! People definitely wouldn't relate good food to hospital food but it's a great way to educate people on the importance of a well balanced meal.

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    1. Indeed lol, all Malaysian hospitals should start applying that seriously.

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  6. Hospital food? And good food? This is interesting....

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    1. It's more than just that dear, please read on to find out the reason behind it :)

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  7. Good way to raise awareness among people about this. RM 4? That's rather economical! And it's even better that the funds are channelled to the Diabetes organization.

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    1. Right? Good and healthy food for only RM4, if i could i would have this for lunch everyday compared to our local mamaks as their's is expensive and oily :/

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  8. Nice food. Will ask my friends' kids who had diabetes to join the contest to create awareness to everyone.

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    1. Thanks for helping to spread the word Mommny Jane!

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  9. This is interesting. Hospital food can be tasteless sometimes or just not right for those with health issues (like diabetes) but good to know that Columbia Asia is doing something about it - and in a fun way too.

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    1. Yes, important matters like these by right shouldn't be overlooked especially since they are a hospital and meeting food health requirements is something they should be doing without being told.

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  10. Bravo to the Columbia Asia Master Chef for specially cook a healthy food for diabetes patient. Sometime I feel sorry for diabetic patient as they need to take care of their food intake to lower the glucose in their body. But now they can enjoy food that specially prepare for them.

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    1. I too feel the same for those with other health problems that requires similar care for food intake :(
      Must be really hard for them to eat out, but now at least they can enjoy their favorite local food again in Columbia Asia hospital.

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  11. cooking for a good cause, how better can it get :) nice share lisa.

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    1. Thanks Isaac, sad that i wasn't there to taste it though lol.
      For a cause, this deserves some sharing :)

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  12. i know many diabetic friends and this is really a good event. thanks for sharing.

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  13. Food for diabetics is basically healthier food so everyone could learn how to prepare them regardless whether we are diabetic or not so its a great initiative

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    1. Agreed! We should watch what we put in our bodies while we are still healthy instead of taking last minute measures when things are too late.

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  14. masterchef collaborating with a hospital. That's really a good call and good way of giving back to society. from the pictures everything looks divine! :D

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    1. Im sure it tastes divine too XD
      More bigger companies should start doing stuff like this to contribute back to society, at least they are doing something with a cause that can benefit many others out there aside from just them.

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  15. Hospital food never taste good, but healthy of course lar, glad that they made an effort to improve the food through competition like this :)

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    1. from m experience it never tasted good and it is not even healthy babe! Guess you haven't been admitted in enough times to find out like me haha *touchwood*

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