The Department of Science and Technology has recently unveiled the “Healthy Aging Program for PinoY (HAPPY) Senior Citizens which the agency boasted as the best nutrition that will the elderly remain at the peak of their health.

DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said HAPPY is a program that aims to develop food products that have the recommended nutrients needed by Filipino senior citizens. He said it will also determine the effects of consuming the said products on muscle strength and physical performance.

HAPPY Senior Citizens Program aims to develop one beverage and one snack food, utilizing mature green tomatoes (MGTs) which are known to contain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, is known to cause several health benefits such as providing support to the immune and nervous systems.

The project is monitored by the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) and is being implemented by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI). Initiated in September 2022, the HAPPY Senior Citizens project is expected to be completed by August 2024.

The project team has already tested the use of MGT powder on several food products such as biscuits, chicken nuggets, skinless longganisa, and tomato sauce. Experiments have also been conducted for the development of a high-protein beverage that can be used as an enteral formula.

Another DOST R&D Program to aid seniors on healthy living and nutrition is the Nutrition Tools, Guides, References and Standards. Produced by the DOST-FNRI, the nutrition tools include the Philippine Food Composition Tables, Philippine Dietary Reference Intakes (PDRI), and the Food Exchange Lists (FEL) for Meal Planning, 4th edition. The development of these nutrition tools is aimed at improving the quality of life of Filipinos.

The FEL provides equivalents to Filipino food staples, like a half cup of rice is equivalent to half a piece of corn or a whole piece of suman (sa Ibos).

Each of the three foods contain 100 calories, 23 grams of carbohydrates and 2 grams of protein.

Similarly, the FEL similarly characterizes 1 ½ pieces of pandesal as equivalent to 1 ½ pieces of a loaf bread or a half a cup of pasta.

The pandesal, pasta and loaf bread equally measure to contain 108 calories, 23 grams of carbohydrates and 4 grams of protein.

The FEL is especially relevant to the aging population, given their food intake restrictions and vulnerability to lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases.