Management of Food Nutrients and main alternatives during Crisis
By: Alaa Babiker
Nutritional substances are significant part to every body’s survival. Without Food, specially the nutritional ingredients, the human body can not operate as efficient as it needs for at least making the every day’s activities.
Today, I want to talk about very important tips to support the body during crisis times. What available alternative types of food we can eat that make us stronger and support our immune system??
How can we prepare food for long lasting use during power offs??
It is very important to keep our immune system working well during crisis times to resist infections and to strengthen our body so as to be able to move and live our daily lives very well.
In Sudan, and during this difficult times, many families have been having power offs for months; so one important tip to save our food is to dry it, using the heat of the sun, not to expose it directly, but to put it under shades and let the natural heated air do the work. This type of food preservation is traditional and have been used for decades in many cultures, which keeps the food healthy and long lasting. The types of food the can be dried and used for months after are; Onions, Potatoes, Tomatoes, some green leaves vegetables specially the one we locally call (Khodra).
Now regarding the alternative food; first we need to know what does our body need daily? Protein, Water, Calcium and Vitamins. Of course there are other types of nutritional substances we need but some of them are less needed for our everyday activities, unless the person has significant shortage of them.
Proteins: if animal proteins are not available we can use vegetable proteins. Although it is commonly cited that “plant foods aren’t complete proteins” but at this difficult time we need to get what is available in the surrounding environment, and one good example of plant protein is the Peeled Wheat, it is tasty and can easily be prepared.
Water: it is important to boil water before drinking, as some water pipe lines have been affected by the strikes and the water may have been exposed to some germs.
Calcium: there are local grains that contain high amounts of calcium, they are available at local shops because they can be preserved for months without being rotten.
Vitamins: geen vegetables contain good amounts of vitamins, but if they are not available nearby you can go to the nearest free medical point, which have been set during this war at different places, the civil doctors there provide free vitamins and daily supplements to all citizens for free.
Stay well and healthy, and may God save Sudan and end this war.