Food Illustrations and Nutrient Charts
This collection of food illustrations may be used to complement nutrition education in Central America. Each illustration is available in color and outline versions
The Academy's position on nutrition security in developing nations is "that all people should have consistent access to an appropriately nutritious diet of food and water, coupled with a sanitary environment, adequate health services, and care that ensure a healthy and active life for all household members." As nutrition experts, registered dietitian nutritionists can help combat malnutrition and provide valuable nutrition education worldwide. However, often when health professionals perform humanitarian assistance work in foreign countries, appropriate educational materials can be difficult to obtain.
The Global Food and Nutrition Resource Hub, developed through an educational grant from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation, aims to be the practitioner’s go-to site for open-access to relevant and effective international nutrition education materials. Currently, you will find materials here focused on Central America, including:
Illustrations are available in color and black and white outline versions for ease of printing. Suggested use is printing the desired illustrations and laminating them prior to international travel as computer and printer availability is often unreliable at the destination.
The Global Food and Nutrition Resource Hub was supported by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation's Wimpfheimer-Guggenheim Fund for International Exchange in Nutrition, Dietetics and Management.
This collection of food illustrations may be used to complement nutrition education in Central America. Each illustration is available in color and outline versions
The recommendations for breastfeeding and complementary nutrition for children in Central America.
Over consumption of highly processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages is a growing health concern in Central America.
Proper nutrition is imperative to breaking the vicious cycle of malnutrition and diarrhea.
Populations in developing areas of this region lack basic knowledge of biology and physiology, so it is imperative that educators use simple techniques when teaching nutrition.
Central America struggles with issues related to improper food sanitation and contaminated water.
Health professionals with experience working in Central America have found the approaches to teaching hand-washing practices to be effective.
Iron deficiency anemia is a serious public health problem throughout Central America. People residing in these countries, particularly in rural areas, may have poor access to iron-rich foods, such as beef, pork and fish, and iron-fortified foods.
One major outcome of malnutrition is stunting – low height for a child's age, which affects almost half of children in Latin America.
Proper nutrition during pregnancy and while breastfeeding is not only important for mothers, it is also crucial to the health of their infants. Women with poor nutrition put themselves and their growing fetuses at a greater risk of disease and death.
Protein is an essential nutrient present in every cell in the body.
Unsafe drinking water and poor water sanitation can lead to infectious diseases, including diarrheal diseases.