George Dewey Medical CollegeHospital Compound, Upper Cubi, SBFZ

Hospital Compound, Upper Cubi, Subic Bay Freeport Zone

TOOLS IN NUTRITION

A. FNRI and FOOD GUIDE PYRAMID

FNRI (Food and Nutrition Research Institute) - has developed a food pyramid guide, a simple and easy-to-follow daily eating guide for Filipinos.

Food Pyramid Guide- is a graphic translation of the current “Your Guide to Good Nutrition” based on the usual dietary pattern of Filipinos in general.

- was developed to help individuals select a well-balanced diet to promote good health.- It shows the five food groups arranged in a pyramid.

B. 10 NGF ( Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF) - is a set of ten messages of simple recommendations that give advice about proper diet and wholesome practices to promote good health for each individual and family members.

The following are the10 recommended messages in the NGF:

1. Eat a variety of foods everyday.

2. Breastfeed infants exclusively from birth up to 6 months, and then, give appropriatefoods while continuing breastfeeding.

3. Maintain children’s normal growth through proper diet and monitor their growth regularly.

4. Consume fish, lean meat, poultry or dried beans.

5. Eat more vegetables, fruits and rootcrops.

6. Eat foods cooked in edible/cooking oil daily.

7. Consume milk, milk products, and other calcium-rich foods such as small fish and darkgreen leafy vegetables everyday.

8. Use iodized salt, but avoid excessive intake of salty foods.

9. Eat clean and safe foods.

10. For a healthy lifestyle and good nutrition, exercise regularly, do not smoke and avoiddrinking alcoholic beverages.

C. RDA/RENI- (sometimes referred to as Recommended Daily Allowance) is defined as "the average daily dietary intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (approximately 98 percent) healthy individuals".

D. Food Exchange Lists (FELs) - The word exchange refers to the fact that each item on a particular list in the portion listed may be interchanged with any other food item on the same list. An exchange can be explained as a substitution, choice, or serving

- Within each food list, one exchange is approximately equal to another in calories, carbohydrate, protein, and fat. Each list is a group of measured or weighed foods of approximately the same nutritional value.- The exchange lists are intended for planning diabetic diets, therefore the foods included are simple and only those allowed in the diabetic diet are listed. Besides, because of the accuracy and convenience of the exchange system, the exchange lists are used for weightmanagement as well .

E. Food Labeling - are the primary means communication between the producer the purchaser or the manufacturer and the

purchaser or consumer.- Nutritional labelling is a description intended to inform the consumer of nutritional properties.

Two Components of Food Labeling1. Nutrient Decleration2. Nutrition Claim

Purposes of Nutrition LabelingTo ensure that nutritional labeling is effective, the Codex Alementarius guidelines remind the:

1. consumers to make a wise choice by reading the label.2. manufacturer or producer to convey the nutrient content or information on the label.3. manufacturer not to mislead or deceive consumers and that, no nutrition claims are made without approval by

appropriate authorities.