An evaluation of two Mexican food guides

Abstract

In Mexico, the food guide developed by The National Institute of Nutrition for the Mexican population is 'The Pyramid of Health'. In the northwestern Mexican state of Baja California, the Nutrition Institute of Baja California (INUBAC) developed and validated another food guide. This guide, named 'The Apple of Health', is based on current nutrition research and the typical food patterns. The purpose of this article was to evaluate and compare (1) the graphical impact, (2) the understanding of the overall message, and (3) the ability to apply the information from both food guides, using a diet design score and focus group interviews, among women from two different education levels living in Baja California. Results showed that mean diet design percentage scores obtained by the participants using The Pyramid of Health were 64.1 and using The Apple of Health 76.7. No statistical difference was found between the two education levels. The majority of the focus group participants expressed that the most appealing food guide was The Apple of Health because of its color and graphic art. However, the Pyramid was more familiar to the participants. The study subjects strongly recommended The Apple of Health food guide as an educational tool for the whole family.