Download Pinggang Pinoy

Guide to Healthy Eating: 10 Kumainments and Pinggang Pinoy
According to World Health
Organization (WHO), non­
communicable diseases (NCDs)
also known as Lifestyle or behavior
diseases such as heart diseases,
stroke, diabetes, cancer and
chronic respiratory diseases are the
leading causes of death
globally. These are called such
because much of the risk factors associated with them are related to how one lives. Among the
important risk factors to NCDs are high blood pressure, high concentrations of cholesterol in the
blood, inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables and other fiber­rich foods, overweight or
obesity, physical inactivity and tobacco use.
Food intake of the average Filipino has been changing over the years in terms of quantity and
quality. Filipinos are now eating more fish, meat, poultry and eggs which are good sources of
protein. However, Filipinos are eating less of fruits and vegetables and complex carbohydrates,
and more of sugars and syrups, fats and oils. This increase can be attributed to the increased
consumption of animal­based foods and decline in fruit and vegetable consumption.
There are current initiatives that are implemented to promote healthy diets for lifestyle­disease
prevention and control and the latest strategies are the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos
(NGF), popularly known as Ten Kumainments and the Pinggang Pinoy.
The Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos, consisting of ten key messages includes both
foodbased and behaviour driven guidelines and addresses current nutritional dietary problems. The Nutritional guidelines aim to address and prevent malnutrition and diet­related non­
communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.The NGF was simplified, shortened and translated into 10 KUMAINMENTS (Sigla at Lakas ng Buhay)
with simple, concise and clear key messages and NGF icon. With messages like “Kumain ng
ibat­ibang pagkain”, Kumain ng gulay at prutas araw­araw”, and “Panatilihin ang tamang
timbang”,individuals are encouraged to eat the right foods, exercise right and pursue a healthy
lifestyle in 10 easy rules.
Pinggang Pinoy is a new, easy to understand food guide that uses a familiar food plate model
to convey the right food group proportions on a per­meal basis, to meet the body’s energy and
nutrient needs of Filipino adults. Pinggang Pinoy is used as a visual tool to help Filipinos adopt
healthy eating habits at meal times by delivering effective dietary and healthy
lifestyle messages. The “Pinggang Pinoy” can be used side by side with the existing Daily
Nutritional Guide (DNG) Pyramid for Filipinos but it will not replace it. According to Food and
Nutrition Reaserch Institute (FNRI), Pinggang Pinoy is a quick and easy guide on how much to
eat per mealtime, while the DNG Pyramid shows at a glance the whole day food intake
recommendation. Both the “Pinggang Pinoy” and the DNG Pyramid for Filipinos are based on
the latest science about how our food, drink, and activity choices affect our health.#
Published in CARAGA News and Upcoming Events