Nutritionist-dietitians' recipe for health and wellness

MANILA, Philippines – The 54th annual convention of the Nutritionist-Dietitians Association of the Philippines (NDAP) this year witnessed a new directive which the organization will pursue to promote health and wellness.

With the theme “The Nutritionist-Dietitian in the Mainstream of Health and Wellness,” the industry will see these specialists taking a proactive approach towards their practice, by spreading awareness about proper nutrition as an effective means of becoming healthy.

“We are in the center of the health and wellness programs, whether in the government or private sector because we are nutritionist-dietitians,” says Nieves C. Serra, RND, president of NDAP. “We are the ones responsible for providing dietary counseling to our patients and the public as well, to encourage them to take well-balanced meals and some form of physical activity to improve their well-being.”

The two-day convention was supported by Abbott Nutrition International in cooperation with the Coca-Cola Export Group.

Ma. Paz L. Sales, RND, 54th NDAP Convention chairperson, said that around 800 participants attended the conference, coming from all over the country. NDAP has over 1,000 members from different regions of the Philippines.

During the convention, a new set of NDAP board of directors was elected who will serve for the next two years. There was also a Market Place exhibit which presented the different nutrition options and products from various pharmaceutical companies and other related manufacturers, among them Abbott Nutritionals, Coca-Cola, ABW/ Whealth Inc., Ajinomoto Philippines, Creative Bakers, CDO-Foodsphere Inc., Fern C, Healthy Means Marketing Services, Kalbe Int’l., Nestle Healthcare Nutrition, Nutri Asia, Renovati Pharma, United Laboratories, and Yakult Phils.

“The market has a lot of options to offer that can confuse the market,” said NDAP member Sanirose Orbeta, RND. “But I think people now have a lot more cognition than before, so they know that wellness is really a team approach — you need the help of experts such as nutritionist-dietitians to provide the nutrition aspect of your lifestyle change practice. Wellness is multi-faceted, so it’s the sum total not only of your living and eating habits but also the way you sleep, avoid vices, and exercise.”

Orbeta also enjoined her fellow nutritionist-dietitians to serve as role models for the public. “We have the capacity to influence our clients to really do it, so we should be fit and active ourselves, and feel well, so that we can convince more people to join us in our quest for wellness.”

For more information, call NDAP at 845-1651. Visit www.ndap.org.ph. NDAP’s office is located at Unit 1106, Cityland Herrera Tower, VA Rufino corner Valero Streets, Salcedo Village, Makati City.