What is the function of Pinggang Pinoy?

December 11, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), the visual guide called Pinggang Pinoy was developed to help Filipinos adopt healthy eating habits by conveying the right food group proportions for each meal.

Quick Summary

Pinggang Pinoy, a Filipino food plate guide developed by the FNRI-DOST, serves as a visual tool to illustrate proper food proportions using Go, Grow, and Glow food groups for balanced meals. {Link: nnc.gov.ph https://nnc.gov.ph/mindanao-region/use-pinggang-pinoy-for-a-healthier-you/}

Key Points

Visual Meal Guide: Pinggang Pinoy is a simple food plate model that visually represents proper food proportions for a single, balanced meal.
Go, Grow, Glow Foods: The plate is divided into three sections for 'Go' (energy), 'Grow' (body-building), and 'Glow' (body-regulating) foods, each with specific recommended proportions.
Combats Malnutrition: It functions to address both undernutrition and overnutrition, which contribute to chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes.
Complements Food Pyramid: Pinggang Pinoy works alongside the broader daily food pyramid, providing a more immediate, per-meal guide for consumers.
Promotes Healthy Lifestyle: The guide's function extends to encouraging hydration, limiting unhealthy foods, and promoting a physically active lifestyle.
Culturally Relevant: It uses examples of locally available and affordable Filipino foods, making its recommendations practical and applicable.
Addresses Population Needs: Tailored versions exist for different age groups and conditions, such as adults, children, and pregnant women, to meet their specific needs.

The Core Function: A Per-Meal Visual Guide

The primary function of Pinggang Pinoy is to act as a simple, visual guide for a healthy plate at each meal. Developed by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), it translates complex dietary recommendations into practical advice. The guide helps address both undernutrition and overnutrition, contributing to the 'double burden of malnutrition' in the Philippines. Pinggang Pinoy offers a clear, immediate reference for portion sizes, making healthy food choices easier.

This per-meal focus makes healthy eating more manageable, promoting moderation, variety, and balance. It helps combat non-communicable diseases by encouraging balanced nutrient intake. The guide also uses culturally relevant and affordable Filipino food examples.

Deconstructing the Pinggang Pinoy Plate: The Go, Grow, and Glow Foods

Pinggang Pinoy is based on the 'Go, Grow, and Glow' food categories. The plate is divided into specific proportions for a balanced intake of these groups.

Glow Foods (Fruits and Vegetables): Half (½) of the plate, rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, essential for immunity and digestion. Examples include malunggay, squash, and bananas.
Go Foods (Rice and Alternatives): One-third (⅓) of the plate, providing energy from carbohydrates like rice, bread, or root crops. Choosing whole grains is encouraged.
Grow Foods (Protein-Rich Foods): One-sixth (⅙) of the plate, for growth and repair, including meat, fish, eggs, and beans. Fatty fish like sardines are also recommended.

Pinggang Pinoy vs. The Food Pyramid: A Comparative Look

Both Pinggang Pinoy and the Daily Nutritional Guide (DNG) Pyramid are official FNRI tools, but they differ in function. Below is a comparison:


Feature	Pinggang Pinoy	Food Pyramid
Focus	Per-meal visualization of food proportions.	Per-day recommendations for overall food intake.
Visual Aid	A simple plate model showing portion sizes for Go, Grow, and Glow foods.	A pyramid structure with food groups arranged in levels of priority.
Primary Goal	To be a quick and easy visual guide for filling one's plate correctly at mealtimes.	To provide a comprehensive overview of a healthy diet over the course of a day.
Functionality	Complements the Food Pyramid by providing practical, meal-based portions.	Serves as the overarching guide for daily nutritional needs.
Ease of Use	Highly intuitive and simple, making it easy to recall and apply instantly.	Requires a broader understanding of daily totals and serving sizes.

Promoting Health and Wellness Beyond the Plate

Pinggang Pinoy also promotes broader healthy lifestyle habits. Key messages include:

Hydration: Drink plenty of water.
Limiting Unhealthy Foods: Reduce intake of salty, fried, fatty, and sugary foods.
Physical Activity: Engage in regular physical activity.
Reading Food Labels: Check nutrition information on labels for better choices.

Tailored for Different Filipino Demographics

The FNRI has developed versions of Pinggang Pinoy for various demographics, including children, adolescents, adults, the elderly, and pregnant/lactating women. These versions adjust serving sizes to meet specific energy and nutrient needs.

Broader Societal Impacts and Benefits

Implementing Pinggang Pinoy offers benefits beyond individual health:

Supports Local Agriculture: Features local foods like fish, vegetables, and fruits, supporting local producers.
Encourages Cultural Preservation: Reinforces traditional Filipino diet and culinary heritage.
Improves Food Security: Supporting local food consumption helps reduce reliance on imports.

The guide is a vital public health tool in the Philippines, supported by educational materials for professionals. FNRI Official Site

Conclusion

The function of Pinggang Pinoy is to provide Filipinos with a simple, visual guide for balanced, nutritious meals. By illustrating ideal proportions of Go, Grow, and Glow foods, it helps individuals make better dietary choices to combat malnutrition and chronic diseases. {Link: nnc.gov.ph https://nnc.gov.ph/mindanao-region/use-pinggang-pinoy-for-a-healthier-you/} It complements the Food Pyramid, offering an accessible tool for daily use that promotes healthier eating, supports local food culture, and encourages an active lifestyle. {Link: fnri.dost.gov.ph https://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph/index.php/116-pinggang-pinoy}

Frequently Asked Questions

Pinggang Pinoy was developed by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Department of Health (DOH), and the National Nutrition Council (NNC). {Link: nnc.gov.ph https://nnc.gov.ph/mindanao-region/use-pinggang-pinoy-for-a-healthier-you/}

The Pinggang Pinoy is a per-meal guide that shows the right proportions for a single plate, while the Food Pyramid provides recommendations for a whole day's food intake. The two tools are meant to be used complementarily.

Go foods are for energy (e.g., rice, bread), Grow foods are for building the body (e.g., fish, meat), and Glow foods are for body regulation (e.g., fruits and vegetables).

Fruits and vegetables, known as 'Glow foods,' should make up half (½) of the plate to ensure a high intake of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Yes, the FNRI has developed different versions of Pinggang Pinoy with specific serving size recommendations for various age groups, including children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly.

In addition to food proportions, Pinggang Pinoy promotes drinking lots of water, limiting salty and sugary foods, and maintaining a physically active lifestyle.

While it features common and culturally relevant Filipino foods to make it relatable and accessible, the guide can be applied to any food, emphasizing portion size and food group representation.