Cebu City - One of our priorities as Filipinos is how to make our family healthy. With that, we are always meticulous in choosing the right kind of food that we serve at our table. The Pinggang Pinoy since its release has been a helpful food guide for Filipinos. Pinggang Pinoy is easy to understand for it is represented in a plate form which is already familiar and always present at our dinner table. But did you know that the colors of the placemat in every age group in the Pinggang Pinoy have their own special meanings?

Here are the colors of the placemats and the meanings behind them:

• Orange (Children 3-12 years old) – evokes energy, vitality, cheer, excitement, warmth, and adventure. Most children are drawn to bright cheerful colors like orange. As a citrus color, orange is associated with healthy food and stimulates appetite.
• Blue (Adolescents 13-18 years old) – the color of the sky and the sea. It is a color that conveys a sense of strength, dependability, and coolness – meanings associated with the favorable qualities of teenagers.
• Brown (Adults, 19-59 years old) – the original placemat color of the Pinggang Pinoy denoting the color of the woven buri. It is the color of the Filipino Malay race.
• Red (Elderly, 60 years and above) – a passionate and energetic color, red has long symbolized energy, power, and courage, and can give the user vigor and strength. It is also known to stimulate the appetite, which is commonly lacking among the elderly.
• Green (Pregnant and Lactating Women) – the universal color of nature and health, green is a symbol of new life, growth, and fertility.

It’s a relief for us to have something that could guide us especially when it involves the overall health and nutrition of our family. Filipinos are known to be filial and we take high regard for family. For more information about Pinggang Pinoy, please visit the National Nutrition Council Region VII facebook page at NNCRVII. // ND II Franz Cassandra R. Ontina, RND

Source: Pinggang Pinoy Guidebook