Cebu City – The red plate of Pinggang Pinoy is the Filipino Food Plate for the Elderly. The red color is a passionate and energetic color, red has long symbolized energy, power, and courage, and can give the user vigor and strength.
The body get to change as you age, so does the nutrition it needs. As the body ages, fewer calories might be needed but still, it needed the calories to sustain its daily requirements to stay healthy. For the elderly, there might be a lot of changes in food choices that needs to be taken care of. Here are some of the recommendations for overall elderly health:
- Choose Nutrient Dense Foods – it is important to choose foods which are high in vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for the elderly without the extra calories that might be dangerous to the elderly health. Avoid empty calorie foods.
- Go for Low Fat and Cholesterol Foods – avoid the saturated fat and trans fats. They are mostly present in highly processed foods
- Drink More Water – drink lots of water everyday to keep hydrated. Limit intake of sugary and alcoholic beverages.
- Stay Physically Active – age doesn’t matter when it comes to being physically active. Take a stroll in the park and even run… of course with care.
The Pinggang Pinoy for Elderly is intended specifically for elder Filipino adults with specific health conditions. It is also important to consult the doctor or your registered nutritionist-dietitian for better healthcare.
The Pinggang Pinoy also have other colors: Blue for teens, Brown for adults, Green for Pregnant and Lactating Women and Orange for kids. See more features about them in the NNC Region 7 webpage. 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
