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FOOD and DIET
The typical diet in Barrio el Rosario is very high in starch and
sugar. Professionals once thought that if poor people got enough calories,
they were getting enough protein at least, due to the average composition of
native foods. This is no longer the case since more traditional foods have
been replaced by cheap starches, apart from their beloved polished rice
(2-3x per day) which is mostly starch in the first place. Almost everyone is
hooked on sweet drinks and white bread. And, as we shall see in a few
paragraphs, starchy foods are no longer relatively so cheap. More |
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As of February 1, the Casa Comunal del Nin~o "Los
Gorrioncitos" is complete: electric, plumbing, two nice latrines,
fixed doors, shelves, etc. There is a new director, longtime volunter
Isabel Duarte, and a new team in place. Everything there, in Barrio el
Rosario, is in better shape than ever before. More |
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Focus on Nutrition: This is our first principle-- Feed the children/
optimize nutrition. In the Granada area there are enough Calories,
especially due to charity programs and the Sisters of Calcutta.
Plenty of carbohydrates includes sweet stufff, white bread and
rice. An overly high sugar/starch diet sets kids up for infections,
and promotes obesity beginning soon after youth. There would be less
sickness with better nutrition. One problem is minimal
protein. Chicken and meat costs about $1/lb which includes bones. The
soymeat of the Sisters is the one bright spot-- it costs U$.15/lb, no
bones included. And it tastes very good. Here are some protein values
of typical foods-- cooked rice, 6-7%; bread, 7-8%; cooked beans,
8-9%. Beans are considered protein food based on dry weight
values. But they complement other proteins and contain other
nutritional goodies. Beans are also rich in iron. The women serve
soymeat at least twice a week, it seems like the best nutritional deal
out there, but I'm not sure of protein content. Eating sufficient
fruits and vegetables is another problem but the women are aware of
their value and they are included in every meal. In Granada,
February, 2005, rice is about $.25/lb; beans fluctuate $.40-.60/lb--
both of these are unprecedented high prices. [Prices of these at your
neighborhood store are about the same here in the USA.] White bread
appears to be a real good deal cause it requires no more cooking, and
kids eat it plain, or sokaed in very sweet milk. We may need to
increase the current U$11 perday that feeds officially 60 kids but
often more. More |
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