Kuya Kim loves wellness

MANILA, Philippines - Even before he was chosen to be Robinsons Supermarket’s Wellness Ambassador for its “I Love Wellness” campaign, Kim Atienza was already a regular shopper at the Robinsons Supermarket located just two blocks away from his residence in Malate, Manila.

“It’s great to personally believe in what you endorse,” he remarked at the press launch recently at Robinsons Magnolia in Quezon City. He professed to be a satisfied “suki” of Robinsons. “They have the freshest fruits and organic vegetables, and the best eggs,” he declared. “My family loves organic eggs.”

Even while this former politician turned TV personality, who goes by the moniker “Kuya Kim,” had always been committed to leading a healthy lifestyle, he was not spared from a shocking health scare a couple of years ago. He suffered a stroke. “The part of my brain that stores knowledge and memory was affected,” he said. He could not speak.

“That was really a difficult time for me, considering that my work involves a lot of talking and sharing of information.” But he remembered his wife’s name, Felicia, he recalled with a smile. And with great determination and dedication, this doting father of three — Jose, Meimei, and Eman — quickly took off on the road to a speedy recovery. Six months after that life-threatening episode, Kim did his first marathon in Bordeaux, France. This year, he is all set to compete in his first Iron Man triathlon.

Aside from sports and exercise, Kim’s daily regimen includes following a healthy diet. He eats a lot, he admits, but he also makes it a point to choose healthy food. “I eat like a diabetic,” says the youthful looking 46-year old, since diabetes is also in his genes.

His strict diet is based on foods that have low glycaemic index, which includes black coffee, peanut butter, whole wheat bread, bagel, barley juice, muesli, sweet potatoes, pasta, brown rice, corn, fish, lean meat, green leafy vegetables and fruits.  “But not all fruits are your friends,” he said. “Some fruits are high in sugar, such as grapes. Apples and oranges are good.”

Fortunately, Robinsons Supermarket has a “Health and Wellness” section that makes it easy for shoppers to find healthy products. “Unlike other supermarkets where you have to sift through a lot of other items first before you see what you need, Robinsons Supermarket has it all figured and products are displayed in a way that is customer-friendly,” Kim noted.

A four-color tagging system was created, where a white tag marks regular products, orange for items on sale, yellow for Robinsons Supersavers products, while the green apple tags mark foods that “fit your healthy lifestyle.” These products have been evaluated and certified to have nutritional benefits by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI). These are characterized by nutritional attributes such as low energy (calories), low fat, low in saturated fat, sugar free, low sodium, low cholesterol, source of protein, and source of dietary fiber. Items evaluated by FNRI should pass at least three conditions on the codex to be given the green tag approval.

A unique private label, Healthy You, is exclusive to Robinsons Supermarket. “We are aware of the customers’ need for alternative healthy choices and shopping convenience,” said Jody Gadia, general manager of Robinsons Supermarket. “Thus, we want to establish our position as a destination supermarket where customers go to for all things they need for health and wellness. It’s a niche that differentiates us from all the others.”

The “Wellness Campaign” was launched six years ago, and the market has responded positively. Even greater awareness is expected now, with Kuya Kim as its trusted and credible spokesperson. “It puts a face on the successful campaign,” added Aja T. Totanes, Robinsons Supermarket-wellness assistant marketing manager.

“Robinsons Supermarket will intensify ‘I Love Wellness’ activities within the store premises such as free bone and dental check-ups, skin and hair analysis, zumba classes, BMI reading, and cholesterol tests among many other wellness programs that promote a completely healthy lifestyle,” Gadia remarked. “Wellness is not only about nutrition. It’s about taking care of yourself, about getting in shape, exercise and right diet, and having the right mind set.”