Feeding Children in Somalia

by: Jillian Kinahan

What needs to be sent?

Starving children everywhere lack the nutrients needed in everyday life. Maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle isn’t possible for them. But how can starving children gain these nutrients? By sending them a certain type of flour we may be able to help them maintain a longer life. This flour needs to have high nutrition rates and be a reasonable price. But which nutrients do they need? Why these specific nutrients? Which type of flour would be the most effective? Why is that flour different from the others? Finally, how price wise is that flour and is it worth the cost?

Which nutrients do starving children need? Why these nutrients?

The most important nutrients needed for a starving child is carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Carbohydrates provide nutrients that are converted into energy used throughout the body, while proteins use amino acids within the protein to grow and maintain body tissues. Fats are important because they provide a source of heat, energy and insulation to organs and nerves. Fats are also a source of vitamins and essential fatty acids. These three essential nutrients will help a starving child survive in their environment that much longer.

Daily Nutrients needed       

                                         Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Nutrient Daily Value (g)

Total Fat  Saturated Fatty Acids

65(g)  20(g)

Total Carbohydrates  Fibre

300(g)  25(g)

Protein 50(g)

Why Soy Flour is the best choiceSoy flour has a high percentage of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, all needed to maintain a healthy balanced lifestyle. For starving children the higher percentages of these nutrients the better. With the higher percentages they may gain more body mass, which will help sustain them for a longer period of time.

If you compared soy flour to a more general flour like wheat flour you would see a big difference in the nutrition factors. This shows why soy flour is better.

Soy Flour per 100g

Nutrient Daily value

Price $4/22oz

Total Fat Saturated Fatty Acids

17g3g

Total Carbohydrates Fiber

30g8g

Protein 29g

Wheat Flour per 100g

Nutrient Daily Value Price $2/22oz

Total Fat Saturated Fatty Acids

1g0g

Total Carbohydrates Fiber

76g2g

Protein 10g

     Soy Flour vs. Wheat Flour

 

Why is this flour different from the others?

Compared to wheat flour which is only high in carbohydrates, soy flour has a high number of carbohydrates, fats as well as proteins. This will aid the people of Somalia with more nutrients then of what only the carbohydrates will provide. The high percent in carbohydrates in wheat flour results in more short term energy. With soy flour having relatively high numbers in all the needed nutrients this will result in more long term energy. This is better for starving people because if they don't eat that often then they have an alternate supply of energy til the next time they eat.

Is this flour worth the price and the effort?

Soy flour is $4/22oz while wheat flour is $2/oz. I would conclude that soy flour would be the best choice to send to these starving people. I've based this choice on the levels of proteins, carbohydrates and fats in soy flour. They all have very high quantities and will give these starving people long term energy in between meals rather than the short term energy the wheat would offer them. It may not be the cheapest flour, but with the high percentage in all the nutrients it would be worth the cost.

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