Department of Health announces different nutritional intake priorities based on age

The Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health has released a new version of the "Life Cycle Nutrition" leaflet, which proposes different nutritional intake and life priorities for six different age groups: lower grade school children, middle and upper grade school children, adolescents, women, pregnant women and the elderly. The content can be downloaded from the "Food and Drug Consumer Knowledge Service Network".

The life cycle nutrition released by the Department of Health proposes different nutritional intakes and life priorities for six different age groups. (Photography by Zhang Yawen)

The Food and Drug Administration pointed out that the latest life cycle nutrition information is based on the new version of the National Nutrition and Health Status Change Survey and the National Dietary Nutrient Reference Intake, and the key points of strengthening are as follows:

• Nutrition for lower grade school children: eat three balanced meals, eat more vegetables and fruits, and develop exercise habits.

• Nutrition for middle and high school students: choose local fruits and vegetables, give priority to low-fat dairy products, and do not ignore nutritional labels.

• Nutrition during adolescence: increase calcium absorption, menstruating women should supplement iron, and snacks and drinks should be controlled.

• Nutrition for ladies: control weight, prevent constipation, quit smoking and drinking to prepare for pregnancy.

• Nutrition during pregnancy and childbirth: regular prenatal check-ups, strengthening supplementation of different nutrients at different stages of pregnancy, and breastfeeding.

• Nutrition in old age: exercise more to increase appetite, sit up straight and don’t hunch your back, and use health foods with caution.

The public can download detailed information from the Food and Drug Consumer Information Service Network (http://consumer.fda.gov.tw/便利服务／文宣下载／人生期营养).