Ajinomoto Launches ‘Young Chef 2026’ Season 2, Challenging the Next Generation to Re-design Healthy Thai Meals for Sustainable Nutrition

Ajinomoto Co., (Thailand) Ltd. is advancing its commitment to consumer well-being with the official launch of the “Ajinomoto Young Chef Thailand 2026”. The competition invites university students nationwide across to compete in creating tasty healthy dishes, with total prizes worth over THB 300,000. Bringing together culinary arts, food science, and nutritional expertise, the initiative aims to nurture young leaders for a sustainable "Eat Well, Live Well" society.

Ms. Roann Co, Director of Ajinomoto Co., (Thailand) Ltd., stated that today’s consumers increasingly seek meals that deliver on health, taste, and overall quality of life. Ajinomoto is drawing on its “AminoScience” expertise to meet these evolving needs. This platform goes beyond a typical cooking contest competition. It is a space for the younger generation to build their skills and create healthy menus that people can actually cook and enjoy eating every day.

“This year, we are putting ‘Nutrition without Compromise’ at the heart of the competition because we believe healthy food should never sacrifice three key elements:

1. Taste: Meals must remain delicious and appetizing.

2. Access: Healthy options must be accessible to everyday consumers.

3. Local Way of Life: Recipes should preserve the character and culture of local cuisine,” said Ms. Roann.

Another key highlight is the integration of the NPS-M (Nutrient Profiling System for Meals) as the benchmark for healthy meal evaluation. Developed through a collaboration between Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, together with Thai Dietetic Association and Ajinomoto — as the benchmark for judging every dish. NPS-M system evaluates six dimensions of balanced nutrition:

• Energy: Providing balanced calories per meal. • Protein: Ensuring sufficient high-quality protein.
• Fat: Maintaining optimal total fat levels.
• Vegetables: Increasing dietary fiber and essential micronutrients.
• Sugar: Controlling sugar content within healthy limits.
• Sodium: Reducing sodium through umami profiling and food science techniques to lower salt without compromising authentic Thai flavors.

The program also promotes cross-functional, partnering with Dusit Thani College on a challenge to “Re-design” traditional Thai dishes for a new generation of consumers. It further collaborates with the Faculty of Communication Arts, Bangkok University, through the Ajinomoto Young Creator initiative, nurturing content creators and helping contestants showcase their creativity on TikTok.

Competition Roadmap

Round 1: Individual Challenge (1 Aug – 15 Sep 2026): Online submission of healthy menu concepts via TikTok to select 60 candidates.

Round 2: Intensive Camp (17–18 Oct 2026): A 2-day bootcamp on “AminoScience” with expert chefs, food scientists, and dietitians to select the top 10 final teams.

Round 3: Final Competition (12 Dec 2026): Live cook-off at Dusit Thani College, Bangkok

Applicant Qualifications & Application Channel

Open to students aged 17–25 studying Nutrition and Dietetics, Food Science and Technology, Home Economics, or Culinary Arts. Applications open online from 1 August to 15 September 2026. For more details, follow the Facebook Fan Page: Ajinomoto Young Chef Thailand or visit www.ajinomoto.co.th.