Recognising that skills and habits are formed through continuous practice rather than on competition day alone, MAGGI® has extended the MAGGI® Secondary School Cooking Competition (MSSCC) experience beyond the finals through an interactive workshop designed to continue the learning journey for students. Celebrating its 28th year, MSSCC serves as a platform to nurture young Malaysian students into confident and informed everyday cooks, instilling values and skills that go beyond cooking. The programme aims to develop lifelong competencies in balanced cooking, creativity and teamwork, and the workshop reflects MAGGI®’s commitment to sustaining this momentum even after the competition ends.
The workshop brought together the five winning teams from MSSCC 2025, professional chefs and a Nestlé nutritionist for a full day of hands-on cooking demonstrations and engaging sessions. Students gained practical skills and insights into preparing balanced meals, reinforcing the core lessons learned during MSSCC. Nestlé Nutritionist Leong Ven Luan shared tips on making nutritious choices accessible and debunked common myths about healthy eating, aligning with MSSCC’s educational focus on balanced diets. MAGGI®’s Resident Chef, Sharifah Hamidah, demonstrated convenient, tasty and balanced recipes, showing students how to apply MSSCC principles in their daily cooking at home. Professional Chef Naem Ramli emphasised foundational kitchen skills, helping students strengthen their abilities and build confidence for their own culinary journeys. Adding inspiration to the workshop, Chef Ariff, a former MSSCC champion from 2016, shared how the competition and continued learning it fostered kickstarted his transition from student cook to professional chef.
Promoting balanced eating and practical cooking while nurturing a healthier generation of young Malaysians remains a key focus of the workshop, especially as many youths struggle to maintain nutritious meals amid busy schedules. Chef Sharifah highlighted the importance of applying MSSCC values in real life, explaining that balanced eating does not have to be complicated or expensive. She noted that with creativity and proper fundamentals, anyone can cook meals that are tasty, balanced and budget-friendly, and that extending the MSSCC experience beyond competition day allows students to continue practicing these principles in their everyday lives.
Students also expressed their appreciation for the workshop. Muhammad Amsyar Haikal bin Abdullah from SMK Belara, Kuala Terengganu, shared that learning directly from professional chefs and a nutritionist in a hands-on setting was eye-opening. He noted that the sessions provided essential techniques, including proper knife handling, preparing balanced meals, and understanding nutrition and healthy cooking habits. For him and his peers, MSSCC has had a lasting impact and continues to inspire them to put what they have learned into practice daily.
Chef Naem Ramli, participating in the MAGGI® workshop for the first time, expressed his excitement at the opportunity to share knowledge and inspire young Malaysians. He highlighted that through hands-on experience, students not only learn kitchen skills, safety and hygiene, but also gain confidence and an appreciation for the importance of balanced cooking. By nurturing these habits from a young age, he explained, a generation can be shaped that values healthier and more mindful eating.
Through sustained initiatives such as MSSCC, MAGGI® continues to demonstrate its dedication to cultivating a future generation of informed, capable and mindful everyday cooks, ensuring that the principles of balanced eating and practical cooking are carried forward into homes, families and communities across Malaysia. For more information on MAGGI® MSSCC 2025, please visit https://www.maggi.my/ms/memupuk-generasi-muda/.
