THE Ministry of Health is advising people to look after their health post Severe TC Winston as food problems arise.
“Foods like rice, flour, powdered milk, noodles, hard biscuit, cooking oil, dhal and tinned fish or meat or other canned foods can be kept for a long time.
“Dried foods must remain dry, so check that the foods in bags or packets are dry before being eaten,” Health Minister Jone Usamate said.
“Rice and flour are excellent energy foods and provide some protein as well. Although they also contain small amounts of vitamins and minerals, these are not nutritionally complete foods and should not be eaten on their own.
“For breakfast, rice can be cooked in lolo, or eaten with milk.
“This can be accompanied by fruits if available, fried onions, shredded vegetables, with a little meat, egg or fish.”
Mr Usamate said rice could also be served with dhal soup, fried vegetables and meat, eggs or fish.
“It can also be made into palau for variety.
“Flour can also be used on a wide range of nutritious combinations. Pancakes, dumplings (topoi) and scone mixtures will be much improved by the addition of powdered milk, mash fruits and eggs if possible to the flour mixture.”
He suggested leftovers could be cooked as fillings for dumplings and scones while adding mashed cooked root crops to flour mixtures.
“Add one cup of mashed root for every two cups of flour. Mix to the proper consistency for whatever you wish to make. The addition of coconut to the flour mixes not only provides appetising flavours but also gives it extra nutritional value.”
With many water sources contaminated by the cyclone, Mr Usamate said all water must be free of human and animal contamination.
“Water should be stored in a clean and closed container, or covered. All drinking water should be boiled after disasters and emergencies. Bottled mineral water is safe to drink.
“Symptoms of food-borne illness are vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pains.”
