Keeping in the PINQ
Demo Version

© 1994

by. R. McCarter

Gyrus Software
RR3 Site 312 C 53
Port Alberni, B.C.
V9Y 7L7
1-604-723-4923
 
The demo version of PINQ is freely distributable providing that the
program remains unaltered and this document is copied along with it.
The author accepts no responsibility for the misuse of information
derived from this program.

The complete PINQ is NOT freely distributable and is NOT shareware.The
complete PINQ is available from the author at the above address for
$24.00 US. The complete PINQ includes enhanced tables, more help, print
utilities, and documentation. The PINQ package includes work sheets and
suggestions for classroom use. The package even include what PINQ stands
for.

PINQ is a program that will allow you to determine the nutritional quality
of the foods you eat. There is no need to be a dietician or an expert of
any kind (a knowledge of decimal numbers would help). PINQ is very easy
to use. It was designed for high school nutrition classes and the students
are usually avidly using it within 5 minutes. 

Simply click on the PINQ demo icon to load the program and food files.
The demo version of PINQ only loads from df0: the complete PINQ is
readily transported onto your hard drive and loads much faster.

Use the right mouse key for the menu and select your sex and age under
RDAs or click on the RDA window to the upper right.

From a listing of 15 major food groups in the left (Food) window, choose 
one group by clicking on it with the mouse and continue to click on options
until a food is calculated as a series of histograms at the bottom of
the screen. Note that several major food groups have been disabled in 
the demo version (desserts, fastfoods, grains, meals, seafood, snacks
and sweets). A numerical version of these histograms is printed in the
small (SINQ) window to the right. To interpret the meaning of these 
histograms click and hold on a histogram. Information is printed at the
top of the small window and a message shows up that says "Very Good" or 
the like. 

The histograms and SINQ scores are colour coded to reflectthe quality 
of the food, red for poor, yellow for adequate, green for good. Food 
groups that are disabled in the demo version are not calculated and an appropriate message appears. The SINQ numbers and their histograms 
indicate the nutrient density of a food, a SINQ of 1.00 indicates 
exactly the right density of nutrient to the caloric content of the 
food. A SINQ of 2.00 indicates twice the nutrient density and a SINQ 
of 0.50 indicates half of the nutrient density.

The food being calculated is displayed in the current food window at the
top center of the screen. To see the full listing, click on this window
with the left and right mouse buttons to scroll the contents.

An overall summary of food quality is provided in the small PINQ window.
Click on this window and a summary appears of the food. The PINQ is
calculated as a median of the SINQ scores and represents the overall
density of nutrition in a single food and allows you to evaluate the
food as a good or poor source of nutrition.

So you thought you knew how good foods were? Explore and look for raisins
and apples under fruits, try white bread versus brown bread, and find
an ice cream that is good for you. Check out rice, catsup, chocolate bars
and fast foods for a surprise ... oops sorry, I've disabled those.

Click on the PINQ button and %RDA is highlighted. Foods are now calc-
ulated in a different way. To find information on this, select 'HELP'
from the menu and then click on the button. Help is available for many
other options with more on line help available in the complete PINQ.

Another menu option allows you to set a diet for youself by increasing or
decreasing daily caloric requirement and the PINQ scores are calculated
accordingly. The print options have been disabled in the demo version.

When you have your sex and age established and the calories in your diet,
position the screen where you like it by dragging the top of the PINQ
screen with the mouse. Save this configuration by choosing this option
from the menu. The program will now load with these defaults.

There is a different type of menu in the center of the screen. Add foods
you like from the current food window by clicking on the down arrow.
Recalculate a food in the menu by highlighting it with the mouse button
then use the up arrow. Delete the highlighted food with the 'del' key.
Clear the menu with 'clr'. The amount (grams) of each food in your menu 
can be adjusted by clicking on the numbers to the right of these menu items.
Use the left key to increase and the right key to decrease these values.

The 'calc' button calculates the overall food value of your menu. In the 
demo version some food groups are excluded from this calculation so don't
rely on these values.

Choose the 'search' option from the menu to find foods quickly. Type in
'pizza' and click on the 'all' buttons and all references to pizza will
be dumped into your menu file.

PINQ is only as good as the data available for foods and you will notice
that some foods are missing information. The PINQ files are always being
updated with new foods and nutrients. If you have a registered copy
of PINQ you will be informed when the new version is available and a new
copy will be sent at a nominal cost.


April 17, 1994

Bob McCarter

Gyrus Software