MANILA, (PIA) — The Department of Science and Technology – Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) unveiled six new food and nutrition tools during its 50th seminar series held at the Sheraton Manila Hotel in Pasay City on Wednesday, June 3. This two-day event aimed to improve the nutrition and well-being of Filipinos.
Rosemarie Dumag, Chief Science Research Specialist of FNRI’s Nutrition and Food Research and Development Division, highlighted that these new tools and guides are designed to enhance nutritional well-being and support the collective goal of a healthier Filipino community.
The six new food and nutrition tools and guides are tailored to benefit various groups, including adolescents, students, educators, workers, food business operators, and health professionals.
The first tool introduced aims to develop nutrition information, education, and communication (IEC) materials specifically for student adolescents. These materials promote health and wellness through nutrition guides and physical education activities, supporting the growth and health of Filipino teenagers.
Among these projects are two key guidebooks:
- Exciteen Recipes for Teens – a recipe book featuring nutritious meals designed to meet the daily dietary needs of Filipino adolescents.
- Physical Activity Guides for Adolescents – a resource focused on physical activities that can be used by students and educators in schools to encourage an active lifestyle and physical wellness.
These tools are part of an effort to foster healthier habits among Filipino teenagers.
The second tool introduced focuses on transitioning from a school setting to promoting health in the workplace through a comprehensive guidebook for workplace wellness programs. This guidebook helps employers create effective wellness initiatives by addressing the gaps, learnings, and challenges identified during the program’s implementation. It provides a structured framework for developing comprehensive health promotion strategies in the workplace.
The third tool is an updated guidebook for the Philippine Food Composition Tables (FCT). This latest edition includes additional information on nutrients such as total dietary fiber, sugar, sodium, cholesterol, fatty acids, beta-carotene, and vitamin A. The guidebook ensures the accurate use of nutritional data in food science, nutrition, and dietetics practices.
The fourth tool is a handbook designed to raise awareness and provide essential data on the trans fatty acid content of various processed foods commonly consumed by Filipinos. This resource highlights the health risks associated with trans fat consumption and serves as a reminder for the food industry to reduce or eliminate trans fats from their products.
The fifth tool is a set of guidelines for the safety of Filipino food handlers, designed to ensure cautious preparation and the serving of high-quality meals. These guidelines cover personal hygiene, ingredient selection and preparation, cleaning and temperature control, and sanitation practices. They are based on an extensive food safety survey conducted across the Philippines.
The sixth and final tool presented is designed for individuals with special dietary needs related to medical nutrition therapy for kidney disease. This tool will guide medical professionals in creating personalized meal plans and diets for patients with kidney conditions.
Health as a basic human right
As the DOST-FNRI unveils these new scientific tools for the health of the Filipino people, they invite the community to become familiar with these resources and envision how they can strengthen public health efforts and discover opportunities for the country’s growth.
According to FNRI Director III Atty. Lucieden Raz, “Nutrition is crucial, and being healthy is a basic human right. To live well and healthily, you must have proper nutrition.”
For more information, visit the DOST-FNRI website: https://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph/ (JCO/PIA-NCR)
