Pinggang Pinoy, an easy guide to good nutrition

The birth of Pinggang Pinoy or the Filipino food plate came as a clamor from the nutrition community to develop a food guide based on a per meal basis for a healthy adult.  

Contrary to what others thought to be a replacement of the Daily Nutritional Guide (DNG) Pyramid for Filipinos, Pinggang Pinoy serves as a quick and easy guide for determining how much to eat per meal from each of the three basic food groups.  

The DNG Pyramid, on the other hand, shows at a glance the whole day’s healthy food intake recommendation for Filipinos in order to have a balanced diet.  

Both tools are based on the latest scientific findings about how food, drink and activity choices affect people’s health.

Food guides themselves are not unique.  In fact, almost every country has its own version of a food guide.  

So what makes Pinggang Pinoy unique?  

As its name suggests, Pinggang Pinoy is specially designed for Filipinos which features the GO, GROW and GLOW foods represented by food items commonly consumed by the population.  

The GO food, for example, is represented by a bowl of rice, a staple food of Filipinos, fish like tilapia for GROW food, and banana and malunggay leaves for GLOW food.  

Included in Pinggang Pinoy’s simple and graphic design is also a picture of a glass of water which stresses the importance of sufficient water intake, and a figure jogging to represent regular physical activity.

Recognizing the different nutrient requirements of the different age groups, the FNRI has recently developed the Pinggang Pinoy plates for children, adolescents, pregnant women and lactating mothers and the elderly.  

The FNRI’s vision is to provide innovative and timely food and nutrition tools that will ensure a healthy and well-nourished Filipino population. 

For more information on food and nutrition, you may write, call or visit:  Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City; Telephone/ Fax Nos: 837-2934 or 837-3164; Direct Line:839-1839; DOST Trunk Line: 837-2071-82 local 2296 or 2284; e-mail: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph or at mar_v_c@yahoo.com; FNRI-DOST website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/FNRI or follow our twitter account at twitter.com/FNRI_DOST. (FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service: Press Release - MA. SUSANA O. ENCARNACION)