Design and validation of a Healthy Plate´s model for Guatemalans daily food.

Abstract

For several decades, the Dietary Guidelines for Guatemala have been used in different health, education, or nutritional food security programs in order to guide the population to a healthy diet, managing to influence with certain success and effectiveness. However, there are some understanding and application limitations. In the context and objectives of this educational resource, the development of a model of the Nutritional Plate was considered for the Guatemalan population, as a tool that allows guiding the consumption of a balanced diet in the different meals of the day, and promoting positive changes in eating behavior in the most vulnerable populations of the country. Literature on the design of materials, educational regulations, and the situation of food-nutritional problems of the Guatemalan population were reviewed, the model was designed, and a panel of 12 experts assessed the criteria for acceptance, understanding, and induction to action. Regarding the Healthy Plate´s model, aspects such as perception of a balanced diet and the proportionality of the food groups of the different daily meals, were rated. Among the main results are that the Nutritional Plate model promotes healthy eating, the 12 experts (100.0% of the participants in the technical validation) reported that the methodology is useful, and 10 (83.3%) indicated that all the materials complied with the criteria of attraction, understanding, congruence, acceptance, and induction to action. The healthy plate model, considered a simple but optimal graphic to guide the adequate diet for Guatemalans, is an educational tool complementary to the Dietary Guidelines for Guatemala.