Let's Feed Somalia!

Let's Feed Somalia!

Currently, the region of Somalia is suffering from severe drought. The insufficient amount of rain is destroying crops and killing livestock. Due to the inavailably of food, over 10 million people are plagued by malnutrition and disease. The soaring food prices, and the instability of the region make for desperate need of aid.

For this assignment I will be researching and testing several different types of flour that could be potentially sent as aid to Somalia.

In order to determine the ideal aid to send to Somalia, several different types of flour have to be tested and analyzed. Factors such as:

-what is the most reasonably priced flour?

-what are the availabilities of the different flours?

-which flour provides the most nutritients?

-which flour contains the highest amout of protein, fat and carbohydrates?

-which type is the most satifying, and increases the most weight gain?

-which flour can be used most easily in Somali recipes?

will be taken into consideration when choosing the flour. The flour chosen must be able to effectively combat the malnutrition and starvation being experienced by Somalians.

Potential flour options are:

-Quinoa

-Wheat (white)

-Rice (white)

-Buckwheat

-Corn

-Soy

-Rye

The following chart shows values

per 100 g of each type of flour...

The chart below shows calories per 100 grams

A breakfast commonly eaten by Somalis is called Canjeero. This pancake-like meal consists of flour and goat's milk.

Through process of elimination, I was able to effectively identify the ideal flour that should be sent as aid to Somalia. The first step I took was to look that the different protein, fat and carbohydrate amounts in each of the seven flours. The ideal flour should contain high amounts of each of these bio-chemicals. If the flour has a high protein percentage, it will provide the consumer with longer-lasting fullness. It will also give them more strength, and the ability to build muscle, if needed. The ideal flour should also contain high amounts of fat. Fat will not only help sustain fullness, but it will also help the Somalis gain weight quicker. As the people of Somalia might not be eating on a regular basis, it is important that what they do eat has a lasting effect. High amounts of protein and fat will ensure this. However, carbohydrates, both simple and complex, are important as well. The Somalis will need the quick energy from carbohydrates. In many cases they will need fuel in order to effectively escape from bombs and attackers. According to my data, the two flours that contain the highest amounts of protein, fat and carbohydrates are Quinoa and Soy. Quinoa provides 14g of protein, 6 g of fat and 64g of carbohydrates per 100 g. Soy provides 34.5 g of protein, 20.6 g of fat, and 35.2 g of carbohydrates per 100 g. Between these two flours, I determined that Soy was the favourable option for the people of Somalia. It contains higher amounts of protein and fat, which are essential in gaining weight and developing muscles. It also contains medium amounts of carbohydrates, for the quick energy needed.

I also studied the calorie contents of each of the seven flours. All the flours, with the exception of corn, were similar as far as calorie content goes. I second step I took, was looking at the nutrients that each of the seven flours contained. Once again, Soy and Quinoa came up better than the other flours. They both contained high amounts of iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous and zinc. At this point in my research, I had singled out Quinoa and Soy flour as my two aid options. Both options are available year- round. However, when looking at costs, I determined that Soy was the cheaper option. Soy flour also came up better, compared with Quinoa, when it came to incorporation into Somali recipes. Canjeero, a pancake-like dish, requires thick flour in order to turn out. Soy flour is slightly thicker than Quinoa.

In the end, I determined that Soy flour is the ideal aid to send to the starving, malnourished Somalis. With its high protein and fat contents, Soy flour will effectively combat hunger and provide long-lasting satisfaction. It will also provide the quick energy that these people need in order to escape from the terrors in which they are living. Soy flour will give these people essential vitamins and minerals as well. It is the more cost effective than Quinoa flour and works bette with the Somali diet. I sincerely hope that this aid will help overcome the starvation and malnutrition being experienced in Somalia due to the drought.

"Drought in the Horn of Africa." Web. 26 Sept. 2011. <http://www.worldvision.ca/give-a-gift/Pages/DroughtintheHornofAfrica.aspx?mc=4248787>.

EBSCO Information Services and EBSCO Publishing - Providers of EBSCOhost, Subscription Services. Web. 26 Sept. 2011. <http://ebsco.com>.

Gluten Free Cooking School: Gluten Free Recipes for a Gluten Free Diet. Web. 26 Sept. 2011. <http://glutenfreecookingschool.com>.

"Nutrition Facts and Analysis for Buckwheat Flour, Whole-groat." Nutrition Facts, Calories in Food, Labels, Nutritional Information and Analysis – NutritionData.com. Web. 26 Sept. 2011. <http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/cereal-grains-and-pasta/5684/2>.

"Nutrition Facts and Analysis for Buckwheat Flour, Whole-groat." Nutrition Facts, Calories in Food, Labels, Nutritional Information and Analysis – NutritionData.com. Web. 26 Sept. 2011. <http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/cereal-grains-and-pasta/5684/2>.

"Quinoa." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 26 Sept. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinoa#Nutritional_value>.

"Rice Flour." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 26 Sept. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_flour>.

"Rye." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 26 Sept. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rye>.

"Rye." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 26 Sept. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rye>.

"Somalia Drought Is 'Worst Humanitarian Crisis': U.N." Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. Web. 26 Sept. 2011. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/10/somalia-drought-worst-humanitarian-crisis-_n_894072.html>.

Web.

"Wheat Flour." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 26 Sept. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat_flour>.

Works Cited

Rationale

(cc) image by anemoneprojectors on Flickr

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Conclusion

Flours

Nutritional Values

Affordability

Flour

Protein

Fat

Essential Nutrients

Amount Needed Daily to fulfill nutrient requirements

Carbohydrate

Availability

5+7=

$20/ 5 lbs

500 g (low on fat)

Quinoa

14 g

64g

52g starch

7g dietary fibre

6 g

3.3 g unsaturated

High in Fe,

Mg, Zn & P

1 g

0.5 g unsaturated

0.2 g saturated

Moderate in Fe,

Mn, Mg & p

76.3 g

2.7 g dietary fibe

0.3 g sugar

400 g (fat & fibre deficient)

Year Round

Wheat

10.3 g

Soy

$30/ 5lbs

1.4 g

0.8 g unsaturated

0.4 g saturated

Rice

5.9 g

80.1 g

2.4 g dietary fibre

0.1 g sugar

Moderate in Fe,

Mg, Mn, Fe & P

800 g (fat deficient)

372 cal

Year Round

Rye

14 g

68.7 g

22.6 g dietary fibre

1 g sugar

500 g (fat deficient)

(cc) image by anemoneprojectors on Flickr

3.7 g

1.5 g unsaturated

0.3 g saturated

Low

Quinoa

Buckwheat

12.6 g

3.1 g

1.8 g unsaturated

0.7 g saturated

High in Zn,

Mg, Mn & Fe

400 g (fat deficient)

70.6 g

10 g dietary fibre

2.6 g sugar

3.8 g

2.7 g unsaturated

0.5 g saturated

76.3 g

9.6 g dietary fibre

0.6 g sugar

Corn

Low

500 g (fat deficient)

9.3 g

Soy

800 g

35.2 g

9.6 g dietary fibre

7.6 g sugar

34.5 g

20.6 g

16.3 g unsaturated

3 g saturated

Hign in Fe,

Mg, P, Mn & Zn

Recipe

Quinoa Flour is made from the ancient grain "Quinoa"

Quinoa

Soy Flour is made from all natural soy beans

368 cal

Wheat

339 cal

Rice

446 cal

Rye

325 cal

Buckwheat

335 cal

Corn

225 cal

Soy