by Maria Teresa L. Ungson
ARE you a junkie? I am not referring to those who are into drugs. The “junkie” that I am referring to can be anyone of us. In nutrition, the junkie is one who loves snacking! They just have to have a “dose” of their energy boosters…what we fondly call “chichiria” (snack foods, chips, sugary drinks and the like).
With all these snack items on the market, one may ask is there really “junk food?’ or what are “junk foods?”
Let’s go back to simple definitions here. Food is anything that when taken in nourishes the body. Nutrients are components of food that provide energy, build tissues and regulate bodily processes. In this context, no food can be considered “junk”. All food that we have in the market contains nutrients…even those that we refer to as “junk food.” Go ahead, read the labels…these “chichiria” have carbohydrates, fats and sugar, don’t they? All these are nutrients that are still useful to the body. Carbohydrates and fats provide calories and are classified as macronutrients or those nutrients that we need in larger amounts.
You may be wondering now why there is all this fuss with the “chichiria.” This is where the term “empty calories” come in. If you take a look at the labels of these items you will see that one pack (could contain 2 or more serving portions) provides around 150-350 calories! And that’s all it provides, calories. Sugar and sodium content is usually high in these products, too. There are no other nutrients that they offer, no vitamins or minerals, what we refer to as micronutrients. That’s why these foods have empty calories. The more appropriate term that we use for these food items are “snack foods.”
Much has been done to enjoin food manufacturers to improve their products through food fortification through the Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program. This government program has brought about the fortification of snack foods and drinks with either or a combination of vitamin A, iron and iodine. Even food condiments are also fortified.
The Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program is a strategy to encourage manufacturers to fortify processed foods or food products with essential nutrients at levels approved by the DOH. The fundamental concept of the program is to authorize the manufacturers to use the DOH seal of acceptance for processed foods or food products, after these products passed a set of defined criteria. The seal is a guide used by consumers in selecting nutritious foods. The SPSP employs two types of food fortification. The first is the voluntary fortification to encourage food processors to undertake food fortification. The second is the mandatory fortification that covers wheat flour with vitamin A and iron, cooking oil with vitamin A, refined sugar with vitamin A and milled rice with iron. These food staples would carry the so-called Diamond Seal.
So, whether or not you are a food “junkie” what’s more important right now is to be an informed consumer. This is a free country. You can choose what you want to buy or eat freely from so many choices. Here are some recommendations and reminders, though, when eating and in making food choices:
Go healthy. The more colorful the food on your plate the more nutritious!
Should you really need to get your fill of “chichiria”, please purchase those with the Sangkap Pinoy Sea,l at least you are assured that they have added nutrients. One can always have the “native” snacks such as banana-cue, camote, bibingka that are naturally nutritious.
Read and compare food labels so that you get your money’s worth. Check the freshness date of the food products. Check packaging of food. Remember that snack foods (chichiria) in the market usually have a high amount of sugar, sodium and fat content.
As an adult, go for low fat, low sugar drinks or preparations. One can always eat/serve vegetable sticks with a healthy dip.
Share your food with friends! It’s more fun and you actually get to eat less calories because you shared the food!
