Smart Parenting Food Awards 2026 Ulam & Pantry Winners: Smarter Pantries, Easier Mealtimes

If you ever see a parent staring off into space, don’t worry. They’re probably just figuring out what’s for dinner. "Ano'ng lulutuin ko?"

Or lunch, breakfast, snacks, baon, and everything in between.

Preparing meals is one of the unexpected responsibilities that comes with parenting. Whether or not we know how to cook, it's our responsibility to provide our kids with nourishing meals. And it's not an easy task. Between busy schedules, kids' ever-changing food preferences, and the need to make every meal nutritious—not to mention, within budget—planning what to serve can feel like a daily challenge. Repeat that every single day, and it's easy to see why many parents always feel overwhelmed.

To answer the never-ending question, "Ano'ng ulam mamaya?" Smart Parenting editors rated, tested, and ranked what we use on a daily basis to make more homemade meals because we know ordering in shouldn't be the norm in this economy. We also turned to the Smart Parenting Village community for help. These winners were chosen after the editorial team and the community rated and ranked nominations based on their nutritional value, affordability, convenience, and ease of use.

Want a restaurant-quality meal in less than 10 minutes? CDO Premium Tonkatsu is a quick and easy ulam option. It's a Japanese-style pork cutlet coated with flaky breadcrumbs, giving you juicy meat inside and a crispy coating outside.

It's perfect when the kids are craving Japanese food or when you need something quick to cook without compromising on taste. CDO Premium Tonkatsu comes with a free katsu sauce inside the package, completing the Japanese tonkatsu experience. Add some shredded cabbage on the side, and you instantly get a restaurant-style meal.

CDO Premium Tonkatsu is well-loved because you can cook it straight from the freezer—no thawing necessary. It's the perfect go-to ulam when you need a meal in minutes. Deep-fry it for five to eight minutes or air-fry it for eight minutes.

One simple way to turn an ordinary meal into a special family gathering is to serve pasta, a welcome change from the usual rice-and-ulam repertoire. The good news is that making pasta doesn't have to be complicated.

Fatima Yamba, mom of two from Smart Parenting Village, shares why she likes using Clara Olé Pasta Sauces:

“It made cooking much easier because everything was simple. I could prepare a tasty meal quickly, which saved time and made it easier to enjoy pasta with my family.”

With Clara Olé Pasta Sauces, everyday meals can easily become special family moments. Fatima adds, “I like that Clara Olé pasta sauces are flavorful, convenient, and easy to use. They make it simple to prepare a delicious pasta meal without needing a lot of extra ingredients.”

Bea Liwanag, mom of two, also from Smart Parenting Village, was pleasantly surprised after tasting Clara Olé Pasta Sauce from a fellow mom's cooking.

“Clara Olé 'yung ginamit ng co-parent ko sa carbonara and pesto nila, at ang sarap! Ang dali lang [pala] i-prepare at malasa na rin. Hindi mo need ng sobrang pampalasa pa.”

In my years of cooking for our family, one of the best lessons I've learned is to choose quality ingredients. Even the simplest recipes taste better when they're made with high-quality products.

Doña Elena Olive Oil is one pantry staple you'll always want to keep on hand. You can use it for salad dressings, pasta dishes, sautéing, and making different sauces. Doña Elena is imported directly from Spain. It comes in three variants for different cooking needs: Extra Virgin (for dressings), Pure (for sautéing), and Pomace (for deep-frying).

Dhang Del Agua, mom of three from Smart Parenting Village, shares why Doña Elena Olive Oil is a staple in her pantry:

“What I love most about Doña Elena Olive Oil is the versatility. Whether it’s the Blended, Extra Virgin, or the Original, each one adds a rich flavor and healthy touch to our meals. The Original makes everyday cooking lighter while the Extra Virgin is perfect for salads or quick aglio e olio. We recently switched from Pure to Blended because it's more affordable.”

Precious Roldan-Valerio, mom of one, also from Smart Parenting Village, shares:

“It’s made a big difference for my family because we get to enjoy delicious food while knowing we’re choosing something healthier.”

Another pantry staple worth keeping handy is pasta noodles. Stock different types of noodles for days when you don't know what to cook but still want to serve a home-cooked meal. Having a variety on hand gives you plenty of options, from chicken sopas and Pinoy spaghetti to lasagna and many other family favorites.

My personal hack is to include one or two noodle or pasta dishes in our weekly meal plan for added variety. It also helps lessen your daily "Ano'ng ulam?" dilemma.

Joanna Geronimo, mom of two, and Zee Mongaya, mom of one, both from Smart Parenting Village use Ideal Noodles not only for their families but also for their small business.

“I use elbow macaroni for my sopas. Hindi matigas yung pasta at firm siya once na naluto na. Nakatulong siya sa aming pamilya in the sense of pagkakakitaan, kasi siya 'yung main ingredient ko sa tinitinda naming sopas.”

Ideal Noodles offers a wide selection of pasta to suit different recipes, including elbow macaroni, rigatoni, fusilli, fettuccine, spaghetti, linguine, lasagna, and many more favorites.

There are days when our schedules simply don't allow us to prepare an elaborate home-cooked meal. Fortunately, not every meal has to be complicated, and we don't need to resort to ordering in right away. Sometimes, a simple, filling dish everyone enjoys is enough.

For busy days, Libby's Vienna Sausage is a quick and convenient ulam that requires very little preparation. Just grab one or two cans from the pantry, heat them in the microwave, and your meal is ready in less than a minute.

You can also pan-fry Libby's Vienna Sausage and serve it with garlic fried rice. Add it to bread for an easy sandwich, or slice it into spaghetti, casseroles, sopas, or a pica-pica platter. The possibilities are endless.

Rheya Adel, Smart Parenting Multimedia Producer, shares: "Worth the price! Best for quick ulam prep, especially for breakfast. The sausages are just right, hindi salty katulad ng iba. It's also easier to prepare because it comes in an easy-open can."

Another pantry staple is Mama Sita’s Oyster Sauce. It is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a wide variety of dishes and recipes.

Rhapsody Bermejo, mom of two from Smart Parenting Village shares: 

“What I like about Mama Sita’s Oyster Sauce is its authentic flavor of seasoning. Mas nagiging malasa yung pagkain kapag hinahaluan ko ito. It adds an umami taste that the whole family loves.”

She adds: “As a mom and mahilig magluto, I love it when my family loves the food I cook and put on the table. With Mama Sita’s Oyster Sauce, mas nagiging magana silang kumain; mas hinahanap nila yung lasa ng luto ko.”

Mae Muñoz, mom of two, also shares: “What I like most about Mama Sita's Oyster Sauce is that it adds a rich, savory flavor to our dishes without needing too many other seasonings. It makes simple meals taste more delicious and restaurant-quality. Whenever I'm short on time, I can still prepare a flavorful meal because it already gives our dishes that rich, savory taste. It’s become one of the kitchen staples I always keep on hand.”

There's a popular saying: "You can't buy happiness, but you can buy ice cream, and that's pretty much the same thing." It's easy to see why so many people agree.

Selecta Ice Cream is a well-loved favorite that many of us grew up enjoying, which is why we're just as excited to share it with our own kids today.

It's the perfect finishing touch to family celebrations, whether it's a birthday, anniversary, holiday, or reunion. Even ordinary days can feel a little more special with a scoop of ice cream. After all, it's one of the easiest ways to bring smiles to the kids' faces.

"I think Selecta has been one of the OGs when it comes to ice cream for kids! The ice cream has a creamy texture that both kids and parents will definitely love," Rheya shares. "My favorite is Double Dutch because it has real cashew nuts and marshmallows. This is really good, especially during summer or even as a sweet treat once in a while."

As parents, we want to serve our families healthy and nutritious meals. But let's be honest: preparing healthy food isn't always easy. We have to think of recipes, make a shopping list, and search for fresh vegetables and other ingredients. Sometimes, we're already exhausted before we even start cooking.

This is why this solution is an awardee. Dizon Bundled Veggies is an Editor's Pick in this year's Smart Parenting Food Awards because it makes grocery shopping easier by grouping vegetables by recipe, a huge help for parents still learning to cook or when you don't have enough mental space to plan each vegetable in your grocery list. Choose from Pinakbet, Chopsuey, Sinigang, Tinola, Nilaga, Panggisa, Kare-Kare, and many other bundles.

"We grab Dizon Bundled Veggies whenever they're available at our suki grocery store," shares Em Cruz, mom of two and Smart Parenting Assistant Managing Editor. "It's a great hack for parents like us who can't always remember all the vegetables needed for each dish. It's also perfect for small families because you don't have to buy whole bundles of vegetables you might not finish, making it more convenient and cost-effective."

Other available bundles include Ginataan, Lumpiang Togue, and Salted Egg.

A back-to-back winner of the Smart Parenting Food Awards, Gold Seas Tuna continues to earn the trust of the Smart Parenting community.

Nepre Tansengco, dad of three from Smart Parenting Village, shares: “It’s 100% pure tuna filling chunks and surprisingly flavorful for something you can just open and eat. It’s best when heated properly because the flavor becomes richer and perfect din ihalo sa gulay or pasta. Gold Seas Tuna is honestly one of those ‘pang-cravings’ or ‘walang time magluto’ meals that actually tastes decent for a ready-to-eat product.”

Princess Arnaiz, mom of two, also from Smart Parenting Village, explains why Gold Seas Tuna is always on her grocery list:

“We absolutely love Gold Seas Tuna! As a mama who always tries to serve wholesome and nutritious meals, I love that Gold Seas Tuna is made with pure meat and no extenders. It's not just delicious but also healthy, so I can confidently give it to my kids without second thoughts! The one with olive oil is our pantry's staple because it’s good for children’s brain development. It's also our go-to meal, especially when we have less time to prepare. Such a huge help for me, because we don't have any helpers at home.”

She continues: “As a homeschooling mama, I take pride in telling my kids that the tuna that we’re eating comes from Philippine seas, which makes us appreciate what our country provides.  My eco-conscious mama heart is also happy knowing that Gold Seas Tuna follows responsible fishing practices.”

It's no surprise that Gold Seas Tuna remains a back-to-back Smart Parenting Food Awards winner and a trusted pantry staple for many families.

My lola used to tell me when I was a child, "Kailangan laging puno ang bigasan." That's why every time she received her pension, the first thing she bought was a sack of rice.

Like many of our Asian neighbors, Filipinos consider rice an essential part of every meal. We eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and we even include it in our children's baon. Choosing the right rice is an important part of meal planning for every Filipino family.

An Editor's Pick in this year's Smart Parenting Food Awards, Harvester's Dinorado Rice is also highly recommended by parents from Smart Parenting Village.

Angelica Panganiban, mom of two, shares why it's her family's preferred rice: “Harvester's Dinorado Rice has been a great choice for our family because of its quality and naturally fragrant aroma. The grains cook well and stay soft, making every meal more satisfying. It's one of those products that everyone in the household genuinely enjoys.” 

HD Herrera, mom of five, agrees: “The quality of rice is excellent. When you cook it, the water-to-rice ratio is equal, which makes it convenient to cook. No guessing whether you need to add or you need to lessen the water. It’s easy to clean and doesn’t get bukbok even if you store it and stock it for up to a month. When cooked, it is also fragrant. The taste is 8/10. It is soft and just right. Rice is not buhaghag and not too sticky as well.”

She adds: “It’s great that I don’t need to worry if it's gonna be overcooked or undercooked. It cooks perfectly every time, saving me time and attention, so I can multitask while cooking the rice. I can have more time to bond with my kids.

McCormick Sea Salt is a pantry essential you'll always want to keep on hand. McCormick Sea Salt adds clean, natural flavor and a pleasant texture to a wide variety of recipes. It's great for seasoning meat and fish, mixing into spice rubs, and enhancing everyday dishes, and is healthier than using iodized salt.

It's also versatile enough to use as a finishing garnish. Sprinkle it over cookies for a sweet-and-salty treat, or add a pinch to hot cocoa or coffee for an extra layer of flavor.

"Very flexible kasi we can use it whenever we cook and even whenever we want to bake. What I really love about this brand is the container because it's reusable and hygienic," Rheya says.

Another Editor's Pick in this year's Smart Parenting Food Awards, Mirepoix from Builtamart brings convenience to meal prep. It's frozen and ready to cook, so there's no need to spend time peeling and chopping vegetables.

A mirepoix is a classic French flavor base made from diced onions, celery, and carrots.

For days when you're short on time, Mirepoix is an easy addition to soups, stews, and other hearty dishes. It contains the classic mirepoix ratio: two parts onion, one part carrot, and one part celery, so there's no need to second-guess the measurements.

Editor-in-Chief Ronna Capili Bonifacio says, "This is my husband's discovery and hack for sneaking veggies into our spaghetti sauce. We love that it's diced, portioned, and frozen, which means having it stocked in the freezer is handy for creating healthy meals with less prep time."

One of the easiest recipes you can make with it is Chicken Noodle Soup, perfect for rainy days or when someone in the family isn't feeling well.

Proudly made in Dipolog City, the Bottled Sardines Capital of the Philippines, Montaño Sardines is made from fresh tuloy (herring) that is slow-cooked with pickles, carrots, and peppercorns. Each variant uses a different type of oil to create its distinct flavor.

Montaño Sardines is available in Spanish Style Sardines in Olive Oil, Corn Oil, Hot Corn Oil, and Tomato Sauce.

Enjoy it straight from the bottle with steaming hot rice for an easy meal, or use it to make a flavorful Spanish sardines pasta when you're in the mood for something a little more special.

Em shares how she discovered Montaño Sardines: "I first discovered Montaño Sardines during a work trip to Mindanao. My colleagues recommended it as a pasalubong, and I was instantly hooked. I love that it's now readily available in grocery stores, so I can easily stock up whenever I'm craving it. The bottled sardines are flavorful and not 'makati.' I enjoy them in sandwiches, tossed with pasta, or simply served over hot rice."

Want to know last year’s winners? Find them here.

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Produced by The Smart Parenting Team

Editor-in-Chief: Ronna Capili Bonifacio

Co-Producer: Em Cruz

Senior Art Director: Yela Lao

Multimedia Producer: Rheyabel Adel

Social Media: Justine Cruz

Associate Publisher: Bettina Santos