October 20, 2010

In attempts to decrease some of the nutritional problem areas at FONELISCO (as noted in my Blog entry #4) there has been some work accomplished in the last few weeks to increase the children’s general health:

-Food Safety: The food storage room has been cleaned, new shelves were installed to keep the food off the ground, and cockroach holes were filled with concrete. The option of investing in a refrigerator is being contemplated as well. I believe this will be of great benefit, since currently there is no way to safely store leftovers or perishables. Food items such as vegetables, fruit, fish and milk are all bought infrequently since a trip to the market just before mealtime seems too time consuming for the staff. Refrigeration would allow them to buy more of these more frequently and in larger amounts.

-Increase of variety in the children’s diets: Useful information was collected by a previous SFD intern last year. This information includes a balanced meal plan for the cook to follow. Unfortunately, this information was found tucked away in the office, forgotten and evidently not implemented. Conversations with the director on why this is so does not clear up the matter. The staff know nutrition is important, but are very resistant to change –especially if it is foreigners suggesting it. All I feel I can do is stress the importance of a more balanced diet and hope it eventually sinks in.  Below is my version of the information left by the previous intern with alterations I have made in attempts to fix what the director thought does not make the meal plan plausible:

*Food groups tool: A diagram of a round plate divided into 4 sections.

Sections:

A)    Rice, ugali (staple foods, CHO)

B)    Beans, ground nuts, small fish (Protein & Fat)

C)    Sweet potato, carrots, mchicha, green beans, potatoes, pineapple, mango, orange, bananas (High energy, high nutrient content)

D)    Tomato, onions, cabbage, green pepper, eggplant, cucumber, watermelon (low energy, mix of nutrients, add taste)

-foods chosen for availability & costs depending on what is in season

Recommendations:

Serve at lease one food from A,B,C at each meal. Add foods from D whenever possible

Add variety to meals. Change the foods selected from each group at least a few times per week.

Vegetables and fruit should include 1 dark green and 1 orange/brightly colored types daily

*Price List of Local Food in Mwanza

* How to Increase Nutritional Value Without Increasing Food Costs

A) Cook less food from group A (ugali, rice). These is frequently more made than is eaten, and with no refrigeration the leftover goes to waste.

B) With money saved, buy more foods from Group B, C & D

for example:

Standard meals

With the 3020tsh saved each day, many different foods from Groups B & C can be bought to add to meals such as:

• Approximately 13 sweet potatoes
• Two large pineapples
• 30 carrots
• 30 small bag of mchicha
• 15 eggs

One serving of Group B and C is equal to ¼ of the plate, 1 handful, or ½ a cup

* Modified Weekly Lunch and Dinner Menu for Children Living at FONELISCO

Day 1

Lunch: ugali, daga, sweet potato

Dinner: rice, beans, pineapple

Day 2

Lunch: ugali, ground nuts, mchicha

Dinner: rice, beans, mango

Day 3

Lunch: ugali, daga, carrots

Dinner:rice, beans, orange

Day 4

Lunch: ugali, daga, sweet potato

Dinner: rice, beans, pineapple

Day 5

Lunch: ugali, ground nuts, mchicha

Dinner: rice, beans, green pepper (can cut up and mix with rice)

Day 6

Lunch: ugali, daga, carrots

Dinner: rice, beans, pineapple, cabbage, tomatoes

Day 7

Lunch: ugali, daga, sweet potato

Dinner: rice, means, mango, onions, tomatoes

*each meal has at least 1 food from Group A, B and C and there is a veriety of foods served throughout the week. Please refer to the Lunch and Dinner Plate Tool

**Every day at least one food is served for each of the common nutrient deficiencies identified in children living in Mwanza; with the exception of protein which is served at least two times per day. Please refer to the Local Food that can Reduce the Incidences of Common Nutrient Deficiencies Found in Children Living in Mwanza chart.

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