Lutong Bahay Ulam Heroes: Smart Parenting Food Awards 2025 Ulam Winners

Most parents find ourselves asking the same question three times a day, every day, "Ano'ng lulutuin ko?"

It's a valid 'problem' at hand for parents who prepare food for the whole family. In a day, there are three basic meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Multiplying three meals a day by 7 days a week would mean preparing 21 meals each week. That's 90 meals in a month. For a whole year, it's a staggering 1,080 meals. That doesn't even include snacks, baon, and special occasions, yet. Not to mention individual food preferences, allergies, and diet restrictions.

Just typing this overwhelms me!

Here's something to help parents solve this dilemma—the Smart Parenting Food Awards 2025. We asked the Smart Parenting community, including editors, Smart Parenting Village members, and the Smart Parenting Squad, for their recommended ulam options that are readily available, easy to cook, and affordable. 

Magnolia Chicken is a healthy and reliable ulam option. Chicken is a grocery list staple thanks to its versatility—whether it's for a classic adobo, the all-time favorite fried chicken, or the healthy roasted chicken when you're feeling fancy. Chicken is packed with protein, making it an ideal choice for meeting the nutritional needs of growing children.

Magnolia Whole Chicken offers a variety of options to suit your preferences and needs—choose from Magnolia Big Bird, Magnolia Free Range Chicken, or Magnolia Fresh Chicken. Whether you're planning your usual everyday ulam or a special dinner at home, Magnolia Whole Chicken is a great choice.

For Smart Parenting Squad member Jesa Linatoc, Magnolia Chicken is always well worth its price: "The price is slightly higher—about 10 to 20 pesos more than the chicken from the local talipapa. But for me, it's worth it. I prioritize quality, and Magnolia Chicken delivers on both freshness and tenderness. I've been disappointed before by cheaper options that turned out to be full of fat and lacked flavor."

"Magnolia Chicken never fails when it comes to taste and texture. The meat is consistently tender, juicy, and just the right size. It's the kind of quality that makes every dish feel special, even the simple ones. And for our favorite dishes? Tinola, always! Especially on rainy days. Magnolia Chicken makes it heartier and more flavorful—comfort food at its finest," Jesa said.

Tocino is another Filipino table staple. Its sweet and tender taste appeals to every member of the family. It's an easy and no-fail ulam option when you're out of ideas on what to cook.

CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Tocino is made from 100% young pork, resulting in a deliciously tender product with a balanced taste that combines sweet and salty flavors. That's why there's no need to boil, just pan-fry! In just a few minutes, CDO Funtastyk Young Tocino is cooked and ready to eat. It's the right choice for days when you need to save time from cooking. Best of all— it is affordable! For only P87.50 for a 225g pack, it can already be an easy and fast lunch option for a small family of three.

"As a mom, I'm always looking for things that make mealtime easy and keep everyone happy. That's why CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Tocino is always in our fridge! It's unbelievably tender and delicious, perfect for any meal of the day," said Associate Video Producer and mom of one, Cherrie Julian. "What I love most is the value for money. For the size and the price, it's a no-brainer for a busy mom like me."

If you haven't tried Bountry Fresh Chicken Nuggets, you're missing out on a yummy and reliable ulam. Bounty Fresh Chicken Nuggets are crispy and delicious, perfect for the whole family. It comes with ready-to-eat barbecue sauce that blends perfectly with the golden, crispy nuggets. For days you need ulam in minutes, Bounty Fresh Chicken Nuggets is a reliable option. Don't forget the barbecue sauce to complete the experience!

"The taste is savory and kid-friendly, with a crispy outside and tender inside texture that's always satisfying to eat," Smart Parenting Village member Patricia Añonuero said. "I just serve it with rice and gravy or ketchup, so it's a very quick, easy, and delicious meal option for our family."

No matter how much we plan to prepare home-cooked meals, there are just some days when we can't do it all. Perhaps there's a sick family member, too many errands to attend to, or unexpected heavy traffic. Sometimes, we don't feel like cooking, and that's perfectly fine!

If you still want to serve a hearty meal for the whole family, Purefoods Ready-to-Eat Chicken Pastel is a lifesaver. Once it's reheated and out of the packaging, it tastes like a home-cooked meal. Reheat it in a pan or microwave for 8-10 minutes, and it's ready to enjoy! Purefoods Ready-to-Eat Chicken Pastel has cooked chicken cut-ups, stewed in a thick, creamy sauce and spices, with carrots, potatoes, and hot dogs. 

"The pastel is creamy, malasa, and the chicken is surprisingly tender," Daisa shared. "The veggies are just right and not overcooked. And the whole dish tastes like something that was simmered for hours. Cravings satisfied for our family, kahit na I didn't cook it from scratch. Super worth it for the price, lalo na for hectic days when we don't have time to cook but we still want something hearty, homemade, and delicious without the hassle. I even sometimes use it as a filling for baked puff pastry cups—easy, elegant, and kid-approved."

Princess prefers to serve the pastel over warm rice. "It's convenient, delicious, and always a hit sa kids and adults because parang lutong bahay kahit ready-to-eat pack siya," she said.

We all have our favorite canned ulam tucked away in the pantry—perfect for days when we need to make the most of our time in the kitchen. It's also handy to stock up on in case of typhoon emergencies.

Gold Seas Yellow Fin Tuna is a healthy and delicious all-time favorite. Even though it's canned, its rich flavor still delivers a gourmet experience. It is ready-to-eat and comes in an easy-open can. It can be a great option on camping days, outdoor activities, or field trips too! If you have the luxury of time, mix it with pesto and pasta, and you already have a special, healthy, and delish meal.

"Our family always stocks up on Gold Seas tuna because we love how chunky it is," Hanna Panoringan, news desk writer, shared. "It's perfect for quick rice bowls or sandwiches. The Chunks in Lemon and Pepper is our favorite, but honestly, all the flavors are chef's kiss."

What's one ingredient that you always have in your kitchen? We're guessing it's soy sauce. It is a versatile sauce base for classic Filipino dishes, such as adobo and bistek. It's also best used as a marinade for tapa and barbecue. And best of all, it makes a delicious dipping sauce for both fried and grilled dishes.

Datu Puti Soy Sauce is a Pinoy kitchen staple we grew up with. It is made from premium soybeans, promising strong tastiness or linamnam that permeates through your dishes, giving that nuot-sarap taste in every bite!

There are days we crave the homey taste of a hot bowl of sinigang. The comforting sour soup—the asim kilig we always go back to is enough to make us feel cozy. Sinigang, our well-loved Filipino ulam, has been recognized as one of the best soups in the world.

It's one of the best ways to incorporate healthy vegetables into your family's meal: enter string beans, eggplant, radish, and kangkong. If you're tired of pork sinigang, switch it up to fish or shrimp. It's easy, healthy, and flexible.

Knorr Sinigang sa Sampalok Mix is made with real tamarinds, tomatoes, onions, and spices for the sour-delicious taste that the family loves. With Knorr Sinigang sa Sampalok Mix, home-cooked sinigang is always one step away!

For self-professed sinigang-lover Smart Parenting Village member Irish Benedicto and her son, Knorr Sinigang sa Sampaloc Mix "captures the heart of Filipino families with its signature asim-tamis-alat blend. It gives a tangy kick that makes us sip sabaw again and again." When asked about their favorite recipes, Irish said: "Sinigang na bangus, sinigang na baboy, and sinigang na manok."

Who doesn't love that crunch from crispy, fried food? Kids love it, adults love them more!

URC Vegi Good Breading Mix is perfect for enhancing your favorite dishes with a satisfyingly crisp, golden crunch. Elevate your favorite dishes with this versatile breading mix, crafted to deliver a perfectly crisp every time. Try it with pork chop, fish fillet, and vegetable cut-outs, too! It already feels like a restaurant-grade meal for the whole family.

URC Vegi Good Breading Mix is made with a delicious blend of tasty seasonings, spices, and real carrots and malunggay. It's crunchy and healthy at the same time! Dream come true for parents who are always trying to find ways to make their kids' meals more nutritious.

"We use URC Vegi Good Breading Mix for our family's favorite recipes, like fried chicken, mini cordon bleu balls, and homemade chicken nuggets," Assistant Managing Editor and mom of two Em Cruz shared. "It gives the dish that perfect blend of savory and crunchiness that kids (and even us adults) just can't say no to."

Another classic ulam many of today's parents grew up with is Libby's Vienna Sausage. It was a quick lunch or dinner ulam, an after-school treat, or to save a busy day that can no longer handle cooking from scratch. But there's a new Libby's Vienna Sausage variant that you might not have noticed.

The sausage that we know and love is now bigger and better than before. The Libby's Vienna Sausage just got a glow-up—now 30% bigger than the original! It comes in a 240g can, and all the sausages are bigger and longer than before. Because of its size, it's just the right amount of ulam for the whole family. Eat it as it is, or mix it as ingredients in menudo, afritada, giniling, and pastel. Either way, it's still the OG Libby's Vienna Sausage we've loved!

"My kids were so surprised to know there's a bigger size of their favorite vienna sausage. For families like ours with multiple kids, the new size is best for sharing. No more arguments that someone had more sausage from sopas than the other!" said Editor in Chief and mom of three Ronna Capili Bonifacio.

Do you often get confused about the differences between these classic ulam dishes—mechado, afritada, caldereta, and menudo?

What we know for sure is that they are all delicious! However, don't worry - here's a solution to the confusion: UFC Ready Recipes (Mixes: Mechado, Afritada, Caldereta, Menudo). UFC Ready Recipe Sauces are convenient and easy to use. It is pre-mixed and pre-seasoned, and all you have to do is pour the sauce and let it simmer. An easy way of cooking all these classic ulam! Bonus part, UFC Ready Recipes are saturated and trans-fat-free!

Smart Parenting Village member Marivie Rase loves using UFC Ready Recipes for their everyday dishes because it's easy to use and cuts her prep time. "The taste and texture of my dishes remain saucy and creamy, the color is very consistent with traditional Filipino favorites, and the taste is delightful," she said.

Do you ever feel guilty of serving fried food as ulam every day? It's still the easiest option available, but sometimes it always makes us think, "Puro na lang prito."

Here's a quick fix to these woes—Danes Herb & Garlic mayo, the first-ever herb and garlic mayo condiment. Pair it with your favorite fried dishes—such as fried chicken, nuggets, or fish fillets —and it becomes a special meal. Bonus: Introduce carrots and celery sticks to your kids and pair with Danes Herb & Garlic Mayo. It's a healthy, fun, and quick side dish to your everyday ulam. Toss some lettuce and greens, and pour on Danes Herb & Garlic Mayo as dressing; voilà, another dinner special.

Analo Detera, another Smart Parenting Village member, thinks that Danes Herb & Garlic Mayo has excellent value for its price. "The taste is well-balanced—creamy with just the right blend of herbs and garlic—making it enjoyable for both kids and adults," she said. "Its smooth texture works well as a spread for sandwiches or as a dip for fried dishes. I like using it on garlic bread or a simple salad dressing. What makes it a favorite in our home is how it easily elevates simple meals with its unique flavor."