In the nutrition and dietetics field, there are various tools utilized to promote healthy eating and proper dietary choices.
Visual guides
Food pyramid-Is a visual guide showcasing the nutrients you should obtain from a particular food group in a day. It constitutes various layers that recede as you move to the top with the broadest segment at the bottom indicating the food groups you should obtain the most from in a day while the top most segment comprises the food group you should limit intake in a day. At the base , the cereals and grains are recommended for more servings per day while at the top you have sweets and sugary foods that should be consumed sparingly.This tool is especially important in
Food exchange lists-Dietary planning tools that classify foods with the same nutrition content to allow for substituting while ensuring variety in the diet.
My Plate-Is a visual representation of the nutritious foods you should intake in a day to meet your calorie requirements. This tool encourages the inclusion of the various food groups It provides a rather extensive plan that accentuates the intake of whole grains , cereals and fruits and vegetables for daily sustenance.It further indicates the recommended portions of nutrient intake; in that, the food group occupying the greater portion of the plate being what you should take most of and the smallest portion being what you should consume least of. Usually the fruits and vegetables take half the plate-which is the greater part and thus should be taken in larger quantities.
Nutrition Assessment Tools -You can refer to former posts on this. Examples are anthropometric assessment tools such as : calipers, Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) tape, weighing scales, BMI.
Dietray Assesment tools including;
FFQ Food recall-It is a dietary assessment tool important in assessing a list of foods and whether there is variety in a diet.
24-hour dietary recall -This is a dietary assessment toolsused to identify the foods you ate within the past 24 hours. It provides a guideline as to your likely nutrient intake per day , and the variety and adequacy of nutrients in your diet.
Food Record-A record of all foods, beverages, and dietary supplements consumed in a specified period of time
Food Frequency Questionnaire-It is a list of foods and drinks that are assessed to determine their usual frequency of intake.
Dietary guidelines
DRIS-They are standards used in the planning and analysis of diets (Please refer to post on DRIs which we covered in earlier posts). These tools basically aim to promote good health., reduce nutrient deficiencies’ risk and prevent disease.
Specialized tools
Mini Nutritional Assessment-A screening tool used for elderly patients to assess for malnutrition risk.
Growth charts-Used for growth monitoring for children below 5 years. With this tool , a child’s development in weight, height , and head circumference is assessed in comparison to systematic benchmarks of children of the same age.