La comida Nica, as Nicaraguans call their cuisine, means "unique food". It is a mix of indigenous and Spanish dishes and ingredients often include corn, beans, plantain, yuca and pork. I've been working with Nicaraguan women in the kitchen to incorporate Textured Soy Protein as a meat extender. They've whipped up some delicious quesadillas and the flavors of the onions and spices gives off an aroma as its cooking that makes your mouth water. They are so anxious to learn how to rehydrate TSP and are excellent students and exceptional cooks. Despite our language barrier, we've prepared a scrumptious lunch enjoyed by all.
Ocotal, Nicaragua is a pretty little town on the CoCo River, in the mountains of northern Nicaragua. This town of 39,000 is where we stay at night. It's our resting place and it gives us a chance to regroup and make plans for our next training session. We venture out each day to villages like Somoto and Cusmapa to conduct additional soy cooking classes. We have partnered with Fabretto Children's Foundation to provide nutrition education and hands-on cooking classes. The weather has been a warm 70 degrees and the breeze and sun are a nice change of pace from the cold and snow I left behind in the Midwest.
Nicaragua is the 2nd poorest country on the continent, suffering from some of the worst poverty conditions in the Western Hemisphere. Over 70% of Nicaraguans are trapped in poverty, with roughly 48% living on $1.25 a day. As a result, 1 out of every 4 children in Nicaragua suffers from some form of malnutrition affecting not only their physical abilities but their learning capacity as well. By showing them ways to include soy ingredients, like TSP, in their local cuisine and favorite recipes, we hope to boost their protein intake and make a difference in the fight against malnutrition through soy solutions.
Nayeli and I are debriefing from our last session and making plans for tomorrow. Some of our destinations may not appear at the top of the list for places for tourist to travel, but everyone we have met has been welcoming and friendly.
Que te cuides. Hasta pronto.
Relación sana,
Marilyn Nash
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