Can proper nutrition and sustainable food choices make a difference for the planet? For Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC), the answer is a resounding yes. And they believe the youth can help us get there.
And that is why every year since 2023, APC has been visiting different parts of the Philippines to connect with students. Through their initiative called the Eat Well, Live Well Youth Summit, APC aims to help students understand the importance of healthy and sustainable food habits.
Photo: When In Manila
Last January 31, APC welcomed over 200 high school students from Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon to the Hotel Casiana Events Center in Tagaytay City for the Eat Well, Live Well Youth Summit 2026. The event—which was attended by Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation officers, the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)—included panel discussions, fun activities, and group challenges that aimed to teach how small but intentional choices can spark positive change.
Best lessons from the 2026 Eat Well, Live Well Youth Summit
The WhenInManila.com team spent the day learning with students at the 2026 Eat Well, Live Well Youth Summit. Throughout the day of insightful talks and activities, there were some profound messages shared. Here are the top things we learned.
1. Healthy living is something you actively choose and practice
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The 2026 Ajinomoto Youth Summit reminded students to stay involved in various movements that support sustainability and proper nutrition for Filipinos. After all, the summit pointed out that healthy living isn’t just something you learn about—it’s something you need to actively experience and maintain.
APC President Mr. Koichi Ozaki explained: “Our slogan and philosophy ‘Eat Well, Live Well’ is a precious concept for everyone.” He added, “We need to learn about proper eating habits and nutrition first-hand to actually understand this lifestyle.”
Photo: When In Manila
It’s not enough to learn and talk about health, nutrition, and making sustainable choices. You need to put them into action.
2. Eating veggies has far more impact than you think
Photo: When In Manila
Remember when our parents would encourage us to “eat our veggies” and leave no leftovers on our plates during meal times? The young attendees at the summit revisited this life lesson through engaging panel discussions.
Registered nutritionist-dietician Bea Menorca de Jesus and former National Nutrition Council Deputy Executive Director Dr. Azucena Milana-Dayanghirang highlighted how consuming healthier snacks and adding more vegetables to our diets could help lead to large-scale improvements in our quality of life.
And did you know that healthy eating and consuming more vegetables can contribute to environmental protection, too? Plant-based foods generally produce lower carbon footprint, thus minimizing pollution and contributing to better sustainability in food systems.
Which is why APC launched I Love Veggie-licious, a campaign that champions the benefits of vegetables. The I Love Veggie-licious caravan has been visiting cities across Luzon to conduct nutrition talks, cooking demos, and fun activities that help educate families about vegetables and how to easily incorporate them into daily meals.
3. Sustainability starts in the kitchen
Photo: When In Manila
For APC, it’s essential for young Filipinos to learn not only about the importance of nutritious eating, but also about how sustainability starts in the kitchen. Mr. Ozaki shared an example: “Put purpose into your leftovers. Make a habit of cooking only what you can finish. We want consumers to reduce waste through these simple yet creative kitchen practices.”
This sentiment is reflected in one of Ajinomoto Philippines’ nutrition campaigns called Too Good to Waste—a guide to sustainability practices to help achieve a greener environment.
Kirstoff Buyoc, APC’s Sustainability Manager, and Elbert Basallote, Jr. from the DENR also shared how Filipinos can maximize their options for well-balanced and sustainable meals, which can also help support local farmers. According to the speakers, trying different planet-based diets might even spark innovative ideas that can help reduce (and ultimately eliminate) food waste at home, at work, and in school.
To put this into practice, one of the summit’s activities was a fun-filled cooking demo of carrot nuggets—a plant-based, zero-waste take on classic chicken nuggets. Just as good, but healthier and more sustainable.
Photo: When In Manila
The 2026 Ajinomoto Youth Summit was a good reminder that a healthier future starts with our youth. Seeing over 200 high school students engage so deeply with nutrition and sustainability shows just how much hope they have for our country and planet. As they bring these lessons home, it’s clear that the summit was more than just an event—it was a step toward a more mindful way of living and eating.
Want to see what else happened at the 2026 Eat Well, Live Well Youth Summit? Watch the highlights video by APC here:
Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation
- Website: https://www.ajinomoto.com.ph/
- Facebook: Cookmunity by Ajinomoto PH
- Instagram: @cookmunitybyajinomotoph
- YouTube: Cookmunity by Ajinomoto Philippines
- More recipes: Ajinomoto | COOKMUNITY® by Ajinomoto
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How will you practice healthy and sustainable eating habits this year? Let us know in the comments below!
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