I have learnt that I have many unhealthy eating habits which I should cut down on. I had high intake of sodium and fat and a diet lacking in calcium. This would have adverse effects on my health, causing diseases such as coronary heart disease and obesity. I have learnt that I should eat more calcium-enriched food and dietary fibre and cut down on fatty and oily food. I should also eat more.
Do you consider your diet a healthy one?
No, I do not consider my diet a healthy one.
Firstly, it is lacking in too many areas. It lacks calcium and at times, dietary fibre. Calcium helps to strengthen our teeth and bones while dietary fibre aids in constipation. Without them, I would face many problems such as osteoporosis. I should eat more vegetables and calcium-enriched food, such as milk and cheese.
Secondly, it is high in fat and sodium. As mentioned earlier, this is detrimental to my health and would pose many health risks such as strokes as it would cause build-up of plaque in my coronary arteries which would restrict blood flow. I should cut down on the fatty and oily food which I had been eating such as Bee Hoon. At times, I also have high cholesterol intake.
Thirdly, I have been under-eating. My diet is small and irregular. I should work harder at maintaining regular mealtimes and have a wider variety in diet.
Are the suggested nutritional tools useful?
Yes, the nutritional tools are useful.
The Food Intake Assessment tool is extremely comprehensive and provide a detailed breakdown of our diet while comparing it against the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). It provides an in-depth and specific look into the individual's diet, allowing him/her to understand it better.It measures the percentage of RDA you have met in different areas which allows for you to better plan your diet as you will have a clear idea of which aspect you are lacking in or indulging too much in (e.g. Saturated fats). They even format it in graphs for easy reference and clarity.
The food pyramid also provides me with a rough idea of which areas I should eat less or more of. It is formatted into different levels with the least recommended at the highest point and the most recommended at the lowest, allowing for clarity and easy reference as well. It is easy to understand so consumers can easily check their diet against it and plan their diet with reference to it. It is also formatted attractively. It also provides several examples of food for each category (e.g. chicken for the meat and alternatives category and watermelon for the fruits and vegetables category). However, this tool pales in comparison to the Food Intake Assessment tool as it is too generic and not specific to the individual. It is meant for the general public to plan their diet but not for each individual to check back and reflect upon their diet.
Why is your suggested one-dish meal healthy?
