“EAT WELL, LIVE WELL, STAY WELL” is a cooking show that presents delicious and nutritious recipes for your family.
It’s produced by Ajinomoto with GMA-7 to help Filipino families to come up with budget-friendly but tasty dishes guaranteed to make your whole family healthy and strong.
Hosted by Iya Villania-Arellano and her cousin Chef Jose Sarasola, the very informative show is now on its 4th season and it will be back on air starting October 14 and every Friday thereafter at 11:05 AM.
So what do they have to offer this time?
“We will have new recipes that will cater to everyone,” says Iya.
“Still budget friendly but healthy and mage-enjoy pa rin ang buong family. I feel so blessed that we’re now on our 4th season. Watch it kasi we have unique new recipes, sobrang iba sa usual dishes.”
Iya adds that she has personally grown with the show.
“With each new season, I gain more confidence in my cooking. Kasi noon, si Andrew ang mas naunang natutong magluto sa amin.
"Hindi pa ako sure noon sa mga galawan sa kusina. But now, I think mas dependable na ako.
"We have great recipes for the Christmas holidays.”
This is something to look forward to in time for yuletide season.
“We want to share it na sana with you, but it has to be a secret muna.
"Saka na lang, kapag malapit na ang Pasko, so abangan nyo.
"We’ll help you with your Christmas planning for the family, perfect for noche buena. We have such interesting fusion recipes,
like a Christmas dish na sweet and savory.
'Pati ako nagulat, pwede pala yun? And when we tried it, si cuz Jose, inubos niya ang share niya.
"Chinichibug talaga namin ni cuz ang mga niluluto namin. You’d think na tikim-tikim lang kami, but hindi, nauubos namin. Wala ng natitira sa staff.”
How are her four kids?
“We’re on the stage na when we look at them, ang ku-cute nilang masyado, so dagdagan pa kaya natin.
'Our youngest, Astro, is so daldal at 4 AM. He coos and smiles a lot. Ang saya-saya lang dito sa bahay namin.
"Some friends ask me, four kids, hindi ba riot yun? Well, it’s really hectic sa first few years but now, our eldest, si Primo is 6 na and Leon is 4, so they’re now easier to handle.
"They’ve learned to do things on their own, like how to dress up on their own, brush their teeth, take a bath, gets na nila.
"Napagsasabihan na sila bilang mga kuya. Sina Alana at Astro na lang ang dapat tutukan.”
Why do they think the show lasts and is now on its 4th season? It’s Chef Jose who answers:
“It’s the recipes that keep our viewers nakatutok talaga.
"I want to think that through our simple but great recipes, they gain more confidence to cook their own homemade dishes.
"We also want to give credit to the writers and production staff and our tandem ni cuz Iya.
"Maganda ang chemistry and vibes that we give in the show.
"May chefs din ang Ajinomoto and they help conceptualize yung mga niluluto namin ni Iya which are then approved by the Aji executives bago namin niluluto.”
Iya says Chef Jose has improved a lot since they started.
“Si cuz Jose, mas relaxed na siya ngayon. Dati kasi, I can feel his nerves. Sorry siya ng sorry tuwing magkakamali siya, but now, he’s really enjoying hosting the show.”
“Yes, that’s true,” says Chef Jose. “At first, I felt the jitters.
"But you improve in each new season. There’s always room for improvement to get better and now, I’m really more at ease hosting the show.”
In their last presscon, he shared that he and his girlfriend, Japanese actress Maria Ozawa, has broken up. So how are they now?
“We’re okay. We’re friends naman as we’ve maintained our friendship. It’s not a messy breakup naman and we didn’t unfollow each other sa social media.
'So we’re good. It’s really the pandemic and the long distance that broke us up.”
Of course, their cooking is enhanced by Ajinomoto Umami Seasoning, Aji-Ginisa Flavor Seasoning Mix and Sarsaya Oyster Sauce.
“All these products are very affordable,” says Aji exec Daye Magno.
“They’re for the whole family and very handy specially this coming holiday season to help Filipino families to eat healthier.
"Thanks to GMA and our very good hosts for collaborating with us for three successful seasons and we’re happy that we’re now on our fourth season.”
Another Aji exec, Deborah Fajarda, adds that Aji products are very safe.
“They contain less sodium to make sure that our consumers will live healthier lives,” she says.
So don’t miss Iya and Jose in “Eat Well, Live Well, Stay Well” as their 4th season starts on October 14 and every Friday thereafter at 11:05 AM.