The Pinggang Pinoy, a healthy food plate for Filipino adults was presented and explained by Ma. Jovina A. Sandoval, science research specialist II of the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), during the 2014 National Science and Technology Week last July 26, 2014 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex.
Pinggang Pinoy, which was developed by FNRI in collaboration with the World Health Organization, Department of Health, and the National Nutrition Council, provides consumers with recommendations of the appropriate proportion of various food groups for a truly healthy and balanced meal.
It uses a science-based approach with the best available scientific evidence, backed by formative research, technical consultations, and pre-testing.
“Pinggang Pinoy compliments and supplements the Food Guide Pyramid. It is a reminder on how to fill-up their plate, with the right amount and quality of food,” Sandoval explained.
The Daily Nutritional Guide Pyramid for Filipinos, or simply the Food Guide Pyramid, was also developed by FNRI and shows at a glance the whole day food intake recommendation for Filipinos. It builds from the base, indicating that we should eat more vegetables and whole grains which take up the bottom part of the pyramid, and less red meat, sugar, fats, and oils which take up the topmost portion. So based on the Pyramid, Filipinos are advised to eat more of the foods pictured at the lowest parts of the pyramid and consume less of the foods featured at the higher levels of the pyramid.
Both Pinggang Pinoy and the Pyramid are based on the latest scientific findings about how our food, drink, and activity choices affect our health.
According to the 2013 National Nutrition Survey, 1 out of 10 adults is chronically energy-deficient and 3 out of 10 are overweight and obese. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization estimated in 2008 that 300,000 people die every year from non-communicable diseases. This figure translates to 800 deaths every day, comprising 60% of all deaths in the country.
Sandoval said that the new food plate aims “to support our advocacy to prevent the non-communicable diseases and the double burden of malnutrition.”
“Our target users are Filipino adults, 19 years old and above, without special medical attention. But for people with ill health, they need special attention or advice from dieticians or medical doctors or any health providers,” she stressed. (S&T Media Service)
