Educational tools for better eating: Origin and evolution of dietary guidelines in Catalonia

Authors

  • Maria Manera Public Health Agency of Catalonia (Spain).
  • Gemma Salvador Public Health Agency of Catalonia (Spain).

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.11.16274

Keywords:

dietary guidelines, food pyramid, healthy plate, community nutrition, public health

Abstract

Dietary guidelines are educational tools based on scientific evidence and on the characteristics of the target population. They must make it easier for people to make better food choices and therefore improve their health, as well as take better care of their environment. The first guidelines used different graphic ideas, until the so-called food triangle or pyramid model, first popularised in the 1990s, became the representation of reference for decades. More recently, the «healthy plate» has come to complement or replace the pyramid in many contexts, although other organisations, such as the Public Health Agency of Catalonia, have chosen to change the approach and design different and innovative guidelines.

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Author Biographies

Maria Manera, Public Health Agency of Catalonia (Spain).

Dietitian and nutritionist collaborating with the Public Health Agency of Catalonia (Department of Health, Catalan Regional Government, Spain) within the Integral plan for health promotion through physical activity and healthy eating (PAAS).

Gemma Salvador, Public Health Agency of Catalonia (Spain).

Dietitian and nutritionist, head and coordinator of the PAAS food advisory board of the Public Health Agency of Catalonia (Department of Health, Catalan Regional Government, Spain).

References

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Published

2021-01-21

How to Cite

Manera, M., & Salvador, G. (2021). Educational tools for better eating: Origin and evolution of dietary guidelines in Catalonia. Metode Science Studies Journal, (11), 131–137. https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.11.16274
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Issue

Science's structures (2021)

Section

Good to eat. Food and health at a time of information overload

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