Food Exchange Lists and Meal Distributions: Laboratory No. 4
Food Exchange Lists and Meal Distributions: Laboratory No. 4
Food Exchange Lists and Meal Distributions: Laboratory No. 4
4
Food Exchange Lists and Meal Distributions
Objectives
1. To understand the Food exchange list and use them in meal distributions
2. In most cases, an exchange portion is different from a serving portion. A serving portion indicates
the amount of food that can actually be usually consumed by an individual. For example, one
medium-size banana, lakatan (14 cm), would generally be considered as one serving of fruit, but
it is actually equivalent to two exchanges of fruit. Moreover, a serving of meat or fish may consist
of two to three pieces, with each portion size being approximately the size of one matchbox, but
would be considered as equivalent to two to three meat exchanges depending on the institution
such as hotels, hospitals and restaurants.
3. For all fried and sauteed foods, one exchange of fat is considered in calculating fat and energy
contents. For example, 1/2 cup sauteed squash should include one teaspoon oil (equivalent to
one exchange of fat) in calculating fat and energy contents of the diet.
1
Nutrition and Diet Therapy: A Laboratory Manual for Nursing Students
4. Nutrient contents of some products are being modified or reformulated to suit consumers’ taste
and conform to new standards. This may alter the nutritional content or the weight per exchange
portion of the food. It is advisable to check the nutrition facts on food label and make necessary
adjustments if significant deviation from FEL exists.
FEL Distribution
Translate the Diet Prescription into Exchanges
1. List all the foods furnishing carbohydrates starting with vegetables, fruit, milk and sugar.
a. Allow 3-5 exchanges of vegetables per day.
b. Allow 3-5 exchanges of fruit per day unless there is need for a drastic restriction of simple
carbohydrates.
c. Allow at least one exchange of milk, if tolerated. The amount and type of milk depends upon
the client’s need or health condition.
d. Allow 3-6 exchanges of sugar per day unless contraindicated.
2
Nutrition and Diet Therapy: A Laboratory Manual for Nursing Students
(Note: Adjust fat allowance depending on the fat content of meat)
d. The result is the number of meat exchanges allowed.
4. For the fat exchange, follow the same steps in deriving the allowances for carbohydrate and
protein, use five (5) as the divisor since 1 fat exchange contains 5g of fat.
5. Distribute the exchange units into breakfast, lunch, supper and snacks, depending on the
individual’s eating habits
Table 4. Sample Computation and Distribution (1500 kcal, 245 g Carbohydrate, 55 g Protein, 35 g Fat)
List Food Exchange No. Of Carbo- Protein Fat Energy
Group Exchange hydrate (55 g) (35 g) (1500 kcal)
(245 g)
I Vegetable 3 9 3 - 48
II Fruit 5 50 - - 200
III Milk (Whole) 1 12 8 10 170
VII Sugar 3 15 - - 60
Carbohydrate partial sum = 86
55 g (prescribed protein)
-25 g (partial sum protein)
30 g (30 ÷ 8= 3.75 or 4 meat exchanges)
35 g (prescribed fat)
-24 g (partial sum fat)
11 g (11 ÷ 5= 2.2 or 2 fat exchanges)
VI Fat 2 - - 10 90
TOTAL 247 57 34 1522
*From 4th Edition Food Exchange List for Meal Planning of DOST-FNRI
3
Nutrition and Diet Therapy: A Laboratory Manual for Nursing Students
Meal Distribution
Table 5. Sample Distribution of Exchanges per Meal
Food Groups No. Of Breakfast Morning Lunch Afternoon Supper
exchanges Snack Snack
Vegetable 3 1 1/2 1 1/2
Fruit 5 1 1 1 2
Milk 1 1
Rice Low Protein 1 1
Medium 5 1 2 2
Protein
High Protein 1 1
Medium Fat 2 1 1
Fat 2 1 1
Sugar 3 1 2
5
Nutrition and Diet Therapy: A Laboratory Manual for Nursing Students
APPENDIX B1
VEGETABLE EXCHANGE
6
Nutrition and Diet Therapy: A Laboratory Manual for Nursing Students
The list of fresh and processed vegetables below contain 3 grams of carbohydrate, 1 gram of protein
and 16 kcal per exchange.
Fresh Vegetables
Filipino Name English Name
Processed Vegetables
English Name Filipino Name Weight (g) EP Household Measure
The following list of vegetables contain negligible amount of calories. These can be included in the
meal as much as desired.
Filipino Name English Name
8
Nutrition and Diet Therapy: A Laboratory Manual for Nursing Students
Sili, lara Pepper
Singkamas, ugat Turnip, tuber
Sitaw, talbos String/yard long beans, leaves
Spinach, dahon Spinach, leaves
Upo, bunga Bottle gourd/white squash, fruit
Talinum, dahon Philippine spinach, leaves
Talong Eggplant
APPENDIX B2
FRUIT EXCHANGE
Fresh Fruits
Filipino Name English Name Weight (g) Household Dimension (EP)
AP EP Measure
Alimuran Rattan fruit 119 50 13 pcs 2.5 cm diameter
Atis Sugar apple 100 50 1 pc 5 cm diameter
(AP)
Balimbing Star fruit 182 160 4 1/2 pcs
Bayabas, pula Guava, red 61 60 2 pcs 3-5 cm diameter
each (AP)
Bayabas, puti Guava, white 81 80 3 pcs 3-5 cm diameter
each (AP)
Cherries, Cherries, 76 70 7 pcs 3 cm diameter
hinog sweet, ripe each
Chico Sapodilla 54 45 1 pc 4 cm diameter
(AP)
Dalandan Orange 344 155 3 pcs 6 cm diameter
each (AP)
Dragon fruit Dragon fruit 119 75 1/2 cup or 1/4 pc 9 x 7 cm (AP)
Duhat Black/Java 80 60 12 pcs 2 cm diameter
plum each (AP)
Durian Durian 150 30 2 segments 5.5 x 3.5 x 3 cm
each
Granada Pomegranate 182 80 1/2 pc 8.5 cm diameter
(AP)
Guyabano Soursop 107 75 1 slice 8 x 6 x 2 cm (AP)
Kasuy, bunga Cashew fruit 78 70 2 pcs 5.5 x 3 cm each
Kaymito Star apple 123 65 1/2 pc 7.5 cm diameter
(AP)
Kiwifruit Kiwifruit 99 75 1 pc 5 x 6 cm (AP)
Langka, hinog Jackfruit, ripe 118 40 1 1/2 segments 5 x 3.5 cm
Lansones Lanzon 118 80 5 pcs 3 x 3 cm each
(AP)
Lechiyas Lychee 77 50 4 pcs 3 cm diameter
each (AP)
9
Nutrition and Diet Therapy: A Laboratory Manual for Nursing Students
Makopa Curacao apple 188 150 9 pcs 4.5 x 4 cm each
(AP)
Mangga, Mango, Indian, 104 80 1/2 cup or 1 pc 6.5 cm diameter
Indiyan, hilaw unripe (AP)
Mangga, Mango, Manila 97 70 1/2 cup or 1 slice 12 x 6.5 cm
kalabaw, hilaw super, unripe
Mangga, Mango, Manila 97 70 1/2 cup or 1 slice 12 x 6.5 cm
kalabaw, super, medium
manibalang ripe
Mangga, Mango, Manila 104 70 1/2 cup or 1 slice 8 x 7 cm
kalabaw, ripe super, ripe
Mangga, paho, Mango, paho, 79 60 9 pcs 4 x 2.5 cm each
hilaw unripe (AP)
Mangga, piko, Mango, piko, 82 60 1 slice 9.5 x 6 cm
hilaw unripe
Mangga, piko, Mango, piko, 85 60 1 slice 9.5 x 6 cm
manibalang medium ripe
Mangga, piko, Mango, piko, 103 60 1 slice 10 x 5.5 cm
hinog ripe
Mangosteen Mangosteen 212 55 2 pcs 6 cm diameter
each (AP)
Mansanas, Apple, green 97 75 1 pc 6 cm diameter
berde (AP)
Mansanas, Apple,red 99 75 1 pc 6 cm diameter
pula (AP)
Marang Jahore oak 121 35 10 pcs N/A
Milon, honey Melon, honey 119 100 3/4 cup or 1 slice 14 x 4.5 x 4 cm
dew dew
Milon, Katsila Melon, 317 200 1 1/4 cup or 1 slice 16 x 6.5 x 2 cm
cantaloupe
Milon, Tagalog Melon, musk 278 200 1 1/4 cup or 1 slice 16 x 6.5 x 2 cm
Orange, Orange, 135 100 1/2 pc 6.5 cm diameter
Florida Florida (AP)
Orange, kiat Orange, kiat 108 80 3 pcs 4.5 cm diameter
kiat kiat each (AP)
Orange, Orange, 108 80 1 pc 7 cm diameter
ponkan ponkan (AP)
Pakwan Watermelon 242 150 1 cup or 1 slice 11.5 x 2.5 x 9cm
Papaya, hinog Papaya, ripe 141 90 3/4 cup or 1 slice 16 x 4.5 x 2 cm
Passion fruit Passion fruit 125 65 1/4 cup or 2 pcs 6 cm diameter
each (AP)
Peras Pear 130 95 3/4 cup or 1/2 pc 7.5 cm diameter
(AP)
Pinya Pineapple 138 80 1/2 cup or 1 slice 14.5 x 2.5 x 4.5
cm
Rambutan Rambutan 153 55 5 pcs 3.5 cm diameter
x 4.5 cm each
(AP)
Saging, Banana, 58 40 1/2 pc 14 x 3.5 cm (AP)
10
Nutrition and Diet Therapy: A Laboratory Manual for Nursing Students
lakatan lacatan
Saging, Banana, 55 40 1/2 pc 12.5 x 3 cm (AP)
latundan latundan
Saging, saba Banana, saba 70 40 1/2 pc 12 x 4.5 cm (AP)
Sampalok, Tamarind, ripe 34 15 12 segments N/A
hinog
Santol Santol 110 65 1 pc 6 cm diameter
Sinigwelas Spanish plum 78 50 4 pcs 3 cm diameter
Strawberry Strawberry 168 165 1 1/4 cups N/A
Suha Pomelo 156 100 2 segments 9.5 x 2.5 x 4 cm
each
Ubas Grapes 69 55 5 pcs 2.5 cm diameter
12 pcs 2 cm diameter
Others (Fresh Juices)
Lemon juice Lemon juice 130 1/2 cup N/A
Niyog, tubig Coconut water 240 1 cup N/A
Orange juice Orange juice 90 1/3 cup N/A
Passion fruit Passion fruit 65 1/4 cup N/A
juice juice
Processed Fruits
Food Item Weight (g) Household Dimension (EP)
EP Measure
Canned:
Apple sauce, sweetened 60
Apple sauce, unsweetened 100
Blackberries, heavy syrup, solids and 45
liquids
Blueberries, light syrup, drained 45
Fruit cocktail, tropical, in syrup 45
Lychee in syrup 45
Peach halves in heavy syrup 65
Pineapple crushed/tidbits/chunks 50
Pineapple slice 40
Strawberries, frozen, unsweetened 130
Strawberries, heavy syrup, solids and 45
liquids
Dried:
Champoy 10
Dates 15
Dikyam 15
Mango chips 10
Prunes 15
Raisins 15
APPENDIX B3
MILK EXCHANGE
11
Nutrition and Diet Therapy: A Laboratory Manual for Nursing Students
Filipino Name English Name Amount (mL) Household measure
Whole
Non-fat/Skim/Fat-free (<1%)
APPENDIX B4
RICE EXCHANGES
Rice A: Low Protein Rice - contains 23 grams of carbohydrate and zero or negligible protein content
Filipino Name English Name Weight (g) Household Dimensions (EP)
EP Measure
Rice and Rice Products
Kanin, “protein-
reduced”
Ampaw, pinipig
Biko
Cuchinta
Sapin-sapin
Corn and Corn Products
Cornstarch
Maja blanca
Maja mais
12
Nutrition and Diet Therapy: A Laboratory Manual for Nursing Students
Noodles and Pasta
Bihon
Misua
Sotanghon
Sweet potato
noodles
Rootcrops and
Products
Gabi Taro
Kamote (dilaw, Sweet potato
murado, puti) (yellow, purple,
white)
Kamoteng Cassava
kahoy/balinghoy
Kamoteng kahoy, Cassava cake,
bibingka bibingka
Kamoteng kahoy, Cassava,
linupak mashed, w/ sugar
and margarine
Kamoteng kahoy, Cassava, pichi-
pichi-pichi pichi
Kamoteng kahoy, Cassava, suman 45 1 pc 8.5 x 3 x 2 cm
suman
Ubi Yam, purple
Others
Saging, saba, Banana, saba,
nilaga boiled
Sago, nilaga Palm starch balls,
boiled
Sago, tapioca Tapioca pearls
13
Nutrition and Diet Therapy: A Laboratory Manual for Nursing Students
APPENDIX B5
MEAT EXCHANGES
Low Fat Meat - contains 8 grams of protein, 1 gram of fat and 41 kcal.
Medium Fat Meat - contains 8 grams of protein, 6 grams of fat and 86 kcal.
High Fat Meat - contains 8 grams of protein, 10 grams of fat and 122 kcal.
APPENDIX B6
FAT EXCHANGES
Monounsaturated Fats
14
Nutrition and Diet Therapy: A Laboratory Manual for Nursing Students
Polyunsaturated Fats
Saturated Fats
APPENDIX B7
SUGAR EXCHANGE
15
Nutrition and Diet Therapy: A Laboratory Manual for Nursing Students
This list contins 5 grams carbohydrate and 20 calories.
Filipino Name English Name Weight (g) Household Measure
APPENDIX C
BEVERAGE LIST
16
Nutrition and Diet Therapy: A Laboratory Manual for Nursing Students
APPENDIX D
FREE FOODS
A “free food is any food or drink that contains few calories (<16 kcal) per serving. The following food
items may be used freely unless specifically prohibited.
FREE FOODS
This list may be considered as free food if taken in the amount specified below. However, taking two
or more servings of these condiments will have corresponding calories that needed to be considered.
APPENDIX E
PURINE CONTENT OF DIFFERENT FOOD ITEMS
18
Nutrition and Diet Therapy: A Laboratory Manual for Nursing Students
REFERENCES
Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology. (2019). Food
Exchange Lists for Meal Planning 4th revision. Food Exchange Lists. Taguig City, Philippines FNRI-
DOST.
http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph/index.php/publications/nutritional-handbooks
19
Nutrition and Diet Therapy: A Laboratory Manual for Nursing Students