It's the start of the school year 2024-2025 which means it's that time of the year again when Filipino parent's mental load includes, "Anong babaunin ng anak ko?" An addition to the the perennial problem: "Anong uulamin natin?"
As a mom sending my child to school for the first time, it helps a lot to be able to take a peek into the ultimate "cheat sheet" of parents who have been there, done that—those who have been sending their kids to school armed with a healthy and lovingly-made baon in their lunch boxes.
That's why for the inaugural Smart Parenting Food Awards 2024, we asked the Smart Parenting community composed of editors, Smart Parenting Village members, and the Smart Parenting Squad what their go-to baon and staple snacks for their schoolkids are. It is our hope to provide more Filipino parents with affordable and easy-to-prepare options sure to make our kids' days in school worthwhile.
The winning products in the Smart Parenting Food Awards 2024 Baon and Snacks Category Include:
- Processed Meat
- Meat-free Baon
- Bread
- Sandwich Spreads
- Biscuits
- Chips
- Nuts and Dried Fruits
- Yogurt/ Milk Boxed Drink
- Chocolate Boxed Drink
Smart Parenting Food Awards 2024 - Baon and Snacks
Processed Meat: Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs
I can still remember waking up to the smell of my mom cooking hotdogs and eggs. That's the signal that it's time to rise, breakfast is ready, and I need to take a bath ahead of my three sisters! The classic Purefood Tender Juicy Hotdogs is unsurprisingly the preferred easy-to-prepare processed meat of Smart Parenting parents, whether for baon or breakfast.
Once in a while, my family loves to wake up to a hearty breakfast of hotsilog. That's why a bag of Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs is a must-have in our freezer!
Available on Shopee and Lazada.
Processed Meat - Chicken: Purefoods Chicken Breast Nuggets
Don't all parents wish for pica-pica that's yummy, made with real chicken, and something we can just pop into the air fryer and pick up after a few minutes? Thanks to Purefood Chicken Breast Nuggets, it's possible!
Hands down, this is the crispy and juicy chicken nuggets that kids and parents love! Mom of three and Smart Parenting editor-in-chief Ronna Capili Bonifacio, swears by this, saying: "My kids can eat so much of these nuggets! They love the barbeque sauce, sometimes they eat it with their favorite ketchup. They feel like they're eating their favorite fast food meals while I am happy that it's quick and easy to prepare on homeschool busy days. No need to defrost so there's no prep required, and I appreciate that it's made out of chicken breast so I know what's going into my kids' food."
Available on Shopee and Lazada.
Meat-free baon: Veega Meat-Free Sausage
When it comes to meat-free baon options, Veega Meat-Free Sausage tops the list for the Smart Parenting community. "Veega Meat-Free Sausage is one of my go-to's for my kids' baon. It's a tasty and healthier alternative to regular hotdogs or ham, perfect for sandwiches or as a main dish with rice. The flavor is similar to chicken hotdogs, but with a denser texture," said Em Cruz, mom of two and Smart Parenting section editor.
Available on Shopee and Lazada.
Bread: Gardenia Classic White Bread
On days we can't even afford to pop something in the air fryer, the biggest lifesaver for Smart Parenting parents is Gardenia Classic White Bread and its trusty palaman! It happens to the best of us—we wake up a little bit late, with not enough time to prepare our kids' baon, and it's okay. A sandwich made with Gardenia's freshly baked bread can still be filling and delicious snack for our school-aged little ones!
Available on Shopee and Lazada.
Sandwich Spreads: Cheez Whiz Original Cheese Spread
The perfect pair to the soft and fluffy pan de sal or loaf bread, Cheez Whiz Original Cheese Spread is the preferred sandwich spread of Smart Parenting moms and dads.
Mom of two and Smart Parenting Squad member Love Cosio attests to this, "I grew up having Cheez Whiz as our staple Cheese Spread at home. Favorite namin 'yun ng mga kapatid ko especially sa breakfast and merienda (including other variants like Pimiento and Bacon). When you spread it sa bread then toast it, mas sumasarap pa lalo!"
She adds, they even use Cheez Whiz beyond sandwiches! "We use it for pizza toast or extra spread sa mac and cheese. Now that I'm a mom, it's part of our grocery list. The kids can even prepare their own sandwiches and they really love its milky and cheesy taste. Because it's the trusted brand by my parents, it's only the cheese spread I use for my family."
Available on Shopee and Lazada.
Biscuits: Nissin Bread Stix
Nissin Bread Stix are the crunchy golden-brown biscuits that take pride in being "baked, not fried". It is this year's preferred snack for Smart Parenting kids. It must be because of the sweet and salty flavor that makes it a versatile baon and it is a snack that goes well with dips, too!
Iza Santos-Cuyos, mom of a preschooler and Summit Media deputy group publisher, has this to say about this kid-favorite biscuit, "My son Jedi is a picky eater, and he usually empties his baon box only when I pack chips or sweet treats. But Nissin Bread Stix has always been his favorite since he learned how to eat solids, until now that he's in preschool."
She continues, "I also love that it's neither sweet and salty—just the perfect balance of baon goodness in every stick."
Available on Shopee and Lazada.
Chips: Piattos Cheese Potato Crisps
What's the best way to cap off a long day in school but with a time for your kids to relax while eating their favorite chips? Piattos Cheese Potato Crisps tops the list when it comes to chips that are delicious and fun to eat!
Thea Masakayan, mom of a preschooler and Summit Media's deputy content director says they love Piattos because it's not too salty but it's tasty, and it also stays crisp.
Available on Shopee and Lazada.
Nuts and dried fruits: Healthy You Trail Mix Nuts 100g and Meadows Mixed Nuts
Our pantry never runs out of this healthy snack because this is our family's favorite healthy kutkutin. Plus, Healthy You Trail Mix Nuts is cheaper than other brands! It's high in protein and good for the heart. A bag contains everything our family loves—raisins, choco chips, mini lentils, dry roasted peanuts, roasted unsalted almonds, and toasted cashew nuts.
Meadows Mixed Nuts, an equal winner in this category, is another staple in our shelf too! It's perfect for movie nights, and it's snack-sized pack is a welcome addition to your child's everyday schoolbag that you don't need to put in a baunan. These fun snacks are a good source of dietary fiber too!
Available in Robinsons Supermarket stores and on GoCart.
Yogurt/milk boxed drink: DutchMill Yogurt Drink Superfruits
DutchMill Yogurt Drink Superfruits is always a fun and healthy addition to a child’s daily baon and snacks. DutchMill’s newest flavor, Superfruits, is milk, yogurt, and real fruit juices made with four berries: strawberry, blueberry, goji berry, and raspberry! Imagine all the nutritional benefits of these fruits rolled into one delicious drink!
Riyalyn Pasimio, Smart Parenting contributing writer and mom of one says, "It is a yummy, healthy, and probiotic drink in one! It is specially formulated with ‘Nu-3-io Plus’ which includes body and brain nutritional supplements and helps in digestion. It is packed with calcium, protein, and vitamins to help nourish our kids’ growing bodies."
She believes that every parent’s checklist when it comes to food choices for kids includes these criteria: delicious, yummy, and healthy. And DutchMill Yogurt Drink Superfruits ticks all the boxes.
It comes in two sizes, 90 mL and 180 mL. The smaller size is perfect for younger kids' quick snacks. The larger size is good for older children's baon.
Available on Shopee and Lazada.
Chocolate boxed drink: Nestle Chuckie Drink
If there's one word to describe why her family loves Nestle Chuckie, Cherrie Julian, Smart Parenting associate video director and mom of one says, "Sherep!" Her family, particularly her four-year-old daughter, loves this chocolate drink as a baon for school and with every snack.
Nestle Chuckie contains Vitamin D and calcium that together helps strengthens children's bones in a yummy chocolatey taste. Based on our survey, it's indeed everybody's chocolatey buddy!
Available on Shopee and Lazada.
Stay tuned for the announcement of Smart Parenting Food Awards 2024 winners in the other categories: breakfast, ulam, celebrations, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and baby, and kitchen tools.
***
Produced by Em Cruz
Photographs by Paola Aseron
Styling by Lady Badoy
Other props provided by Beaba Philippines
Editor in Chief: Ronna Capili Bonifacio
Shoot assisted by Yuuki Dela Cruz and Justine Renee Cruz
Video producer: Cherrie Julian
Videographers: Jino Del Mundo, Rolando Pingco Jr.
Editor: Rolando Pingco Jr.
Art Director: Stephanie Ocampo
Social Media by Zen Arganda
Marketing Specialist: Marie Bilgera
Associate Publisher: Bettina Santos
Publisher: Iza Santos-Cuyos
More from sp
