The international seminar and final series of Nutrition Expo 13 events took place on Saturday, November 18, 2023, in a mixed manner. The 8th International Seminar on Nutrition (ISON) organized by the Association of Nutrition Families (AKG) Faculty of Public Health (FPH) Universitas Indonesia (UI) carried the theme “From Limitations to Opportunity: Improving Nutrition for People with Dietary Restrictions”. Presenting Mr. Hj. Ridzoni bin Sulaiman, M.Sc., Pensioner Chief Dietitian at Kuala Lumpur Hospital, as the main speaker and Drh. Safarina G. Malik, M.S., Ph.D.; Dr. Susianto Tseng, and Dr. Ir. Dwi Nastiti Iswarawanti, M.Sc. as three panelists.
“With this event, it is hoped that it can provide benefits regarding nutrition for public health and for primary students. Hopefully this event will be more successful in the future,” said the Deputy Dean for Education, Research and Student Affairs, FPH UI, Dr. Ir. Asih Setiarini, M.Sc., in his speech.
Dietary restrictions mean a person has restrictions on certain foods. This is a concern due to the lack of nutritional intake consumed (malnutrition) and the preservation of food before consumption. “For this reason, the main challenge of dietary restrictions is how a person must maintain nutritional intake with a balanced diet and substitutions for the food they consume,” explained Mr. Sulaiman in his keynote speech on the topic “Balanced Diets for All: Introduction to Food Substitutes and It’s Challenges”.
Meal replacement is a diet that refers to the practice of replacing one type of food with another type of food that offers similar nutritional value without sacrificing the culinary taste, appearance, taste, texture, and smell of the food. One example that can be applied is the consumption of vegetable protein in tempeh. Tempeh is the result of fermented soybeans which can match or even exceed the nutritional levels of meat. So, tempeh is very good for consumption and is the right choice as a substitute food. Based on data, substitute foods also have a significant positive impact on environmental health.
Furthermore, Drh. Safarina, one of the panelists, delivered material on “Lactose Intolerance in Infants and Children: Maximizing Nutrient Intake and Preserving Gut Health”. Lactose is a type of sugar produced in milk which must be digested properly in the body. Currently, lactose intolerance is receiving attention because it is a case that is often found in babies, children, and adults. So alternative prevention is needed which can include lactose-free products, not consuming foods containing large amounts of lactose, and limiting and replacing animal milk products such as cow or goat.
Building a supportive environment through education and ambassadors of balanced nutrition in society is one answer to creating conditions for balanced nutrition in society. For this reason, there needs to be a movement at every level of society to provide and build awareness. “Cooperation must be carried out at all levels, including individuals, communities, businesspeople, and governments and ministries must support the creation of a conducive environment to support the effectiveness of the food system for people in the world,” said Mr. Solomon at the end of the seminar. (ITM)