Here's a Challenge

January 24, 2005

Apparently, these are the rations formerly given to Iraqis under the food rationing program.

I'm assuming people could find vegetables and fruits and probably meats and eggs -- forbid we should do without the flesh.

I would be interested in the kinds of things people can think to make from these sparse ingredients. It must assume staples on hand such as baking powder/soda or even yeast and herbs and spices. Try to limit those, though, and make it a real challenge. I would also be interested in any other such "food baskets" you know of that are supposed to sustain a person.

Iraq Food Basket Items (weekly portion for one adult or child)

Wheat flour 2 kg (5 lbs)Rice .5 kg (1 lb)Sugar .5 kg (1 lb)Pulses (dry beans) .25 kg (1/2 lb)Tea 35 g (1 oz)Salt 35 g (1 oz)Cooking oil .25 kg (8 fluid oz)Cheese .30 g (1 oz)

Adult baskets also include small amounts of soap and detergent. Infant baskets (for childrenunder 1-year-old) include 8 kg (2 lbs) of milk powder and .2 kg. (6 oz) of weaning cereal.

Kind of makes us think about complaining we don't like the various kinds of this or that we have available...

I also find it interesting to include tea. So far as I know, tea is not native to that part of the world, so has to be an expense to import. I guess sugar wouldn't be, either.

January 25, 2005

I don't understand. Is this a rationing program from the days of Saddam's

regime or a rationing program instituted by the occupying American forces?

If it is the latter, one could understand why it could potentially contain

non-native and culturally-inappropriate foods; however, tea is an important part

of Middle Eastern culture, perhaps a legacy of the former European conquerers,

such as the British. If you read " Reading Lolita in Tehran " , the author talks

about how making good tea is a point of pride in Iran, almost as elaborate as a

Japanese tea ceremony.

I am appalled that they include mil powder for infants, to discourage healthy

breast-feeding, but don't get me started on THAT rant.

It does not say what kind of cheese, nor if it is whole wheat or white flour or

white or brown rice, nor whether it is sea salt or iodized, nor if it is vegan

sugar or processed with bone char, nor what kind of cooking oil. There is a

whole lot here, in such supposedly simple and basic rations, that a health

conscious person could not eat.

Rowena

Jan 25, 2005 12:46 AM

Digest Number 1070

There is 1 message in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1. Here's a Challenge

" Eric Stevens " <sseric57

______________________

Message: 1

Mon, 24 Jan 2005 12:50:48 -0500

" Eric Stevens " <sseric57

Here's a Challenge

Apparently, these are the rations formerly given to Iraqis under the food

rationing program.

I'm assuming people could find vegetables and fruits and probably meats and eggs

-- forbid we should do without the flesh.

I would be interested in the kinds of things people can think to make from these

sparse ingredients. It must assume staples on hand such as baking powder/soda

or even yeast and herbs and spices. Try to limit those, though, and make it a

real challenge. I would also be interested in any other such " food baskets " you

know of that are supposed to sustain a person.

Iraq Food Basket Items (weekly portion for one adult or child)

Wheat flour 2 kg (5 lbs)

Rice .5 kg (1 lb)

Sugar .5 kg (1 lb)

Pulses (dry beans) .25 kg (1/2 lb)

Tea 35 g (1 oz)

Salt 35 g (1 oz)

Cooking oil .25 kg (8 fluid oz)

Cheese .30 g (1 oz)

Adult baskets also include small amounts of soap and detergent. Infant baskets

(for children

under 1-year-old) include .8 kg (2 lbs) of milk powder and .2 kg. (6 oz) of

weaning cereal.

Kind of makes us think about complaining we don't like the various kinds of this

or that we have available...

I also find it interesting to include tea. So far as I know, tea is not native

to that part of the world, so has to be an expense to import. I guess sugar

wouldn't be, either.

[This message contained attachments]

______________________

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January 25, 2005

Tea is something they drink often in that part of the world. We had an Afghanistan refugee family living with us for awhile and tea was very important for them several times a day, each and every day.

God's Peace,

Gayle