Pictorial instrument of food and nutrition education for promoting healthy eating

ABSTRACT To trace the course of building a pictorial instrument that explores semiotic resources about food and nutrition education. The instrument is directed at the treatment and prevention of obesity, considering the food and nutrition problems of the Brazilian population. The criteria for photo production were: images that could cause visual impact and transmit applied nutrition information, insinuating positive and negative eating practices for promoting healthy eating, and preventing and treating obesity. Themes were created to guide photo production, and preparations, food composition tables, and food labels were used for composing the images. Focus groups were conducted with nonobese and obese women, and dietitians to evaluate image comprehension. The pictorial instrument totaled to 20 photos, with 5 photos in each of the following themes: 'Sweet life, being aware of sugar', about sugar content in sweets and drinks; 'Tasty food with little fat', about fat content in foods; 'Eating well by making the best choices', about food replacements; and 'I take care of myself by eating healthy food, about encouraging fruit and vegetable intakes. The photos contain food, meals, and semiotic resources. The pictorial instrument describes four relevant themes to approach food problems in the Brazilian population. It can easily be used for both preventing and treating obesity, and for promoting healthy eating.

摘要
本研究旨在梳理一款用于探索食品与营养教育符号学资源的图示工具的开发历程。该工具立足巴西民众的食品与营养问题，服务于肥胖的防治工作。
照片制作的遴选标准为：具备视觉冲击力、可传递应用营养信息的图像，能够暗示有助于健康饮食、防治肥胖的正向与负向饮食行为模式。研究团队制定了用于指导照片拍摄的主题体系，并依托食品制备场景、食物成分表与食品标签来构建图像内容。研究面向非肥胖女性、肥胖女性及营养师开展焦点小组访谈，以评估图像的理解效度。
该图示工具共包含20张照片，分为四个主题，每个主题各5张，分别为：「甜蜜生活：关注糖分」——围绕甜食与饮品的糖分含量；「低脂美味：健康膳食」——围绕食物中的脂肪含量；「合理膳食：科学选择」——围绕食物替代方案；「健康饮食：守护自我」——旨在鼓励增加果蔬摄入。所有照片均涵盖食品、餐食及符号学元素。
该图示工具围绕巴西民众的食品问题设置了四个贴合实际的核心主题，可便捷应用于肥胖防治与健康饮食推广工作。