28 January, 2021
Philippines Nutritional guidelines
Posted in : Recipes on by : Good Food
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Official name
Philippines Nutritional guidelines for Filipinos (Filipino: Mga Gabay sa Wastong Nutrisyon Para sa Pilipino).
Publication year
The Philippines published its first dietary guidelines in 1990. They were revised in 2000 and again in 2012.
Process and stakeholders
The Food and Nutrition Research Institute – Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) initiated and chaired the inter-agency and multidisciplinary Technical Working Group on the 2012 guidelines.
The guidelines were approved by the National Nutrition Council. The communication and dissemination is spearheaded by the National Nutrition Council and endorsed by various government agencies.
Intended audience
The guidelines are directed at the general population and also include messages on the feeding of infants and children.
Food guide
The Philippines uses the daily nutritional guide pyramid and has developed pyramids for different population groups. The pyramid is divided into levels of recommended consumption. Messages about exercise and personal and environmental hygiene serve as support messages for the pyramid.
The healthy food plate for Filipino adults (Pinggang Pinoy) completes the messages of the pyramid by showing adequate distribution of nutritious foods in a meal.
Messages
- Eat a variety of foods every day to get the nutrients needed by the body.
- Breastfeed infants exclusively from birth up to 6 months, then give appropriate complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding for 2 years and beyond for optimum growth and development.
- Eat more vegetables and fruits every day to get the essential vitamins, minerals and fibre for regulation of body processes.
- Consume fish, lean meat, poultry, eggs, dried beans or nuts daily for growth and repair of body tissues.
- Consume milk, milk products and other calcium-rich foods, such as small fish and shellfish, every day for healthy bones and teeth.
- Consume safe foods and water to prevent diarrhoea and other food and water-borne diseases.
- Use iodized salt to prevent iodine deficiency disorders.
- Limit intake of salty, fried, fatty and sugar-rich foods to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
- Attain normal body weight through proper diet and moderate physical activity to maintain good health and help prevent obesity.
- Be physically active, make healthy food choices, manage stress, avoid alcoholic beverages and do not smoke to help prevent lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases.