On Thursday, September 17th, Island Food Community of Pohnpei presented to the new Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV) training in Madolenihmw. This is the 76th Peace Corps Volunteer group to serve in Micronesia. Over the years, many things have changed across the islands. One thing remains the same: the PCVs sense of excitement about living in a new country, with new customs, language, and diet. IFCP provided insight on local foods, and their important nutritional content. IFCP staff, Lymer Yamada and Areline Joakim explained the three IFCP posters. The first poster depicts 15 Pohnpei bananas that are highest in provitamin A carotenoids, beta-carotene. It was explained that some have much more than others and are therefore better from a nutrition standpoint. The second poster compares several provitamin A rich local foods, and their beta-carotene content, and shows that rice has NONE. Some bananas displayed are Utin Iap, Karat, Utimwas, Ihpali, Mangat, Iemwahn, Kudud, and Akadahn Weitahta. These are compared with Utin Menihle, which contains less provitamin A. The posters also pictures varieties of breadfruit (Meikole, Meikalak), giant swamp taro (mwahng), and pandanus (kipar ), which is shown in detail on the third poster.
The majority of these traditional foods were never previously seen, let alone eaten by these new volunteers. The volunteers tried the foods and started developing a taste and appreciation for them. They were told of the importance of talking to their families about the many benefits of local food (CHEEF – Culture, Health, Economy, Environment, and Food Security). It is important that the message is spread that traditional local foods are nutrient-rich and that eating them, and sufficient physical activity, is key to fighting diseases that are becoming rampant here in Micronesia, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Some of the important questions asked by the PCVs and answered by IFCP are as follows:
Q. Does cooking the traditional food destroy the provitamin A, like cooking destroys Vitamin C?
A. No. In fact, cooking increases the amount of provitamin A that the body is able to absorb.
Q. Are all cooking and preparation methods the same health-wise?
A. No. Baking and boiling are healthier methods. When you fry food, or add sugar to it, you are taking away from the benefits that the local foods naturally provide by adding something unhealthy. If you want to vary your local food, then mix with coconut cream, sweet banana, or sugarcane.
Q. What local foods are high in calcium?
A. Taro (mwahng) is very rich high in calcium, also breadfruit, and edible green leaves such as Kangkong, Chaya, Pele and Sweet Potato. When your family purchases canned meat, encourage them to buy mackerel as it is very calcium-rich. Mackerel is a much healthier choice than SPAM, or corned beef!
Island Food Community of Pohnpei would like to thank the U.S. Peace Corps for allowing us to share important information with the new PCVs, about the healthy local food choices in Micronesia. The volunteers are encouraged to later contact the respective groups on their islands that promote local foods and work with them to educate their assigned community about growing and eating local foods. Here in Pohnpei, IFCP can be contacted at 320-3259, or come by and visit us in the Botanical Garden.