Normal and Therapeutic Nutrition

Normal and Therapeutic Nutrition 3(2+1)

Lesson 5:Food Exchange List

Introduction

• The Food Exchange Lists(FEL) are the basis of a meal planning. Food exchange lists are groups of measured foods with similar calorific value and similar protein, fat and carbohydrate. All foods of exchange lists make a specific contribution to a good diet. None of the exchange groups can by itself supply all the nutrients needed for a well balanced diet.
• Exchange lists are based on principles of good nutrition that apply to everyone though extremely helpful for diabetics.
• Food exchange lists help in easy manipulation of protein, calories and other nutrients.
• Nutritive value of diets calculated using food composition tables is time consuming and laborious and also cannot be calculated by a layman.
• Detailed calculations are not required in day to day practice. Therefore FEL becomes very useful.