GUIDELINES ON HEALTHY FOOD AND BEVERAGE CHOICES IN SCHOOLS

(DepEd Order No. 13, s. 2017)

GREEN YELLOW RED

FOOD
• Should be included in healthy menu • Should be less prominent in the menu • Must NOT be in the healthy menu
• To be sold EVERYDAY • Served ONCE / TWICE A WEEK only • NOT to be sold in the canteen
E X A M P L E S

• Soft drinks • Alcoholic Drinks • Sports Waters • Sports Drinks

• Flavoured/sweetened water • Energy Drinks
DRINKS • Milk (unsweetened)
• Powdered Juice Drinks
• Safe and clean water (nothing added) • 100% Fresh fruit juices with added sugar
• Any product containing Caffeine
• Fresh Buko Water (unsweetened)
• Any processed Fruit/Vegetable Juice with added sugar of more than
20 grams or 4 teaspoons per serving

• Milled Rice • Brown Rice or Iron-fortified Rice • Any jelly • Ice crushes & Slushies • Ice Cream / Ice drops /
• Fried Rice • White Bread • Biscuits • Banana Cue •
• Corn • Oatmeal • Whole Wheat Bread Ice Candies • Cakes • Donuts • Sweet Bakery Products / Biscuits
Camote Cue • Turon • Maruya • Pancakes
ENERGY-GIVING • Cassava (kamoteng kahoy) • Chocolates • Hard / Chewy Candies • Chewing Gums
• Waffles • Pancit • Champorado • Arroz caldo
(GO) • Boiled Sweet Potato (kamote) • Marshmallows • Lollipops • Yema • French Fries • Bicho-bicho
• Sandwiches (cheese, egg, chicken filling, etc.)
• Boiled Saging na Saba • Binatog • Instant Noodles
• Butter • Margarine • Mayonnaise (use sparingly)
• Boiled Peanuts Suman • Puto • All types of heavily salted snacks such as chips/chichiria

• Processed foods such as Meats / Fish

BODY-BUILDING • Fishes • Shellfish • Small shrimps • Lean meats • Hotdogs • Sausage • Burger Patties • Chicken • Chicharon • Chicken Skin • Bacon
(GROW) • Chicken without skin • Nuts • Egg Nuggets • Tocino • Tapa (still subject to evaluation as • Deep-fried foods including Fish Balls, Kikiam, etc.
reflected in their Nutrition Facts)

BODY REGULATING • Fresh Fruits, preferably those in season • Fruits canned in heavy syrup
• Stir-fried Vegetables
(GLOW) • Green, leafy & yellow Vegetables • Sweetened / deep-fried fruits or vegetables

CUT-OFF POINTS FOR PACKED FOOD AND DRINKS WITH NUTRITION LABEL / NUTRITION FACTS
NUTRIENT CONTENT contains a wide range of nutrients contains 2-3 nutrients contains 1 or no nutrients

SATURATED FAT Less than 3 grams 3 to 5 grams More than 5 grams

Less than 1/2 teaspoon oil 1/2 to 1 teaspoon oil per More than 1 teaspoon oil per
TRANS FAT 0 per serving (sauteed) 0 serving (fried) 1 or more serving (deep-fried)

SUGAR / TOTAL
Less than 2 teaspoons 2 to 4 teaspoons sugar per More than 4 teaspoons sugar per
CARBOHYDRATE Less than 10 grams 10 to 20 grams More than 20 grams
sugar per serving serving serving
(if no dietary fiber)

Less than 1/20 teaspoon 1/20 to 1/10 teaspoon salt More than 1/10 teaspoon salt per
SODIUM Less than 120 mg 120 to 200 mg More than 200 mg
salt per serving per serving serving