Hawaii Foods Website Committed to Helping Hawaiians Eat Healthier

Hawaiians have a long tradition of good health, thanks to the plethora of nutritious fare that is found right on the islands. However, the introduction of a diet from the mainland has created a bounty of unhealthy foods easily available to Hawaiians as well, making it more challenging to distinguish between the “shoulds” and “should-nots” in the Hawaiian diet today. To help Hawaiians make good diet choices, the Hawaii Foods website is committed to educating Hawaiians about the foods they eat and how to modify the diet for better health.

What is the Hawaii Foods Website?

The initial idea for the Hawaii Foods website was developed many years ago by members of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaii. The final website was created in conjunction with the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii. Financial assistance to maintain the website has come from a number of sources, including the college, the Vitamin Settlement Fund and other private donors.

What is Included on the Website?

The Hawaii Foods website offers information about a wide range of foods commonly consumed in the islands. Because Hawaii is a diverse population, food selections include those from Asian, Western and Pacific Islander diets, as well as fare commonly eaten by other locals on the different islands. Because information and foods are added regularly, the website is an evolving one. Users may want to check back periodically to find out what foods might have been added to the list since their last visit.

Foods that are included on the website feature detailed nutritional information based on different serving sizes. For example, if you want to check the nutritional information on locally-grown avocadoes, you can choose serving sizes between a single slice and a whole avocado. Once you select your serving size, you will find the number of calories the food contains, as well as a long list of vitamins and minerals provided by the food.

Users who sign up as members of the website can also effectively track their diet choices to find out whether their daily menu provides sufficient nutrients for the body. This feature allows you to log the food you eat each day and then print out your results at the end to find out how many calories and nutrients you consumed. The daily log can help you make better food choices in the future that will contribute to improved physical and mental health.

Many health experts agree that we really are “what we eat.” To ensure your diet is beneficial to your body, use the tools at the Hawaii Foods website to learn how to eat for your health.