【International Swallowing Day Culinary Competition】

Dec 12 marks the annual "World Swallowing Day," an initiative dedicated to raising public awareness of dysphagia and swallowing health. In honor of this occasion, Happy Kitchen specially collaborated with German Pool, Headline Daily, and The Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) to present the "German Pool Cooking Competition — Care Food Showdown." Through this creative culinary competition and live sharing event, contestants were challenged to unleash their imagination and culinary skills to reinvent traditional dishes into exquisite care food soft meals. These creations fully complied with IDDSI standards while beautifully balancing nutrition, flavor, and visual appeal, proving that care food can be exceptional in color, aroma, and taste.

The event was privileged to host an esteemed panel of professional judges, including:

• Sally Lo - Head (Solutions Hub), Hong Kong Council of Social Service

• Dr.Vicky Leung - Assistant Professor, Department of Hospitality and Business Management, THEi (Chai Wan Campus)

• Ronnie Cheng - Project Manager, "Eating in Dignity" Project, Christian Ling Oi Association, Haven of Hope Christian Service 

• Michael Chan - Speech and Language Therapist 

• Alex Leung - Deputy Director (Business Development), Sing Tao News Corporation 

The panel evaluated entries based on comprehensive criteria, including care food compliance, creativity, aesthetics, nutritional value, and overall performance. The event also featured care food educational sharing and live demonstration segments, allowing contestants and the general public to gain a deeper insight into swallowing needs and the critical importance of active aging nutrition.

Through this competition, Happy Kitchen aspires to champion the philosophy of "sharing the same meal at the same table," empowering individuals with swallowing difficulties to share delicious food and joy at the same dinner table with their families. By helping them rediscover the happiness and dignity brought by dining, we aim to further inspire society to build a warmer, more friendlier, and more inclusive care food culture.