Food ration: Tinola in a cup with dehydrated rice for disasters

Resumen

Food rations are commonly used by the military during their mission. It is a calculated meal that is ready to eat. It usually comes in foil packs. The Philippines is one of the countries located in the Pacific region that commonly experience storms that often cause people to evacuate from their homes. Relief goods are given to those who are affected. This research aims to create a food ration that is healthier and easier to prepare as an alternative to relief goods distributed during calamities. The product that is being developed is under the category of processed food and ready- to-eat. Processed food contains sodium while chicken in which is the source of protein. Hence, these two nutrients are included in the study. Experimental results show that dehydration of chicken using electric dehydrator for 8 hours retains nutrients and eliminated moisture that is considered as the medium for microbiological growth. The final sample of dehydrated chicken has 0.85 water activity and categorize as intermediate moisture content, there is less chances of microbiological growth. While for dehydrated rice final sample the water activity is 0.86, under intermediate moisture content. The dehydrated chicken and rice contain nutrients that are necessary for the category of food ration that is given in situations that have limited water and energy that are needed in cooking.