A Research on Meeting Daily Nutrient Needs of Menus Consumed in Earthquake Areas

This study was conducted based on the one-week menus distributed 72 hours after the earthquake that occurred on 06.02.2023 in the Dulkadiroğlu district of Kahraman Maraş. While nutritional needs, which people could not reach or think about during their most difficult times, were met with aid, it was aimed to determine to what extent the daily nutritional element needs were met. Our research revealed that the meals provided as breakfast and dinner could not fully meet the energy and protein needs. While the daily population average energy requirement (children, young people, adults, elderly) should be a minimum of 2,250 calories/day, it was observed that only 58% of this need could be met with the two meals we provided over a week-long research. The protein requirement should be an average of 60 grams per day according to the population average, but only 83% of this requirement could be met over a week. Although vitamin and mineral needs were not measured in this study, it is predicted that there is a similar deficiency rate. Given that earthquake victims were observed to have very limited opportunities to prepare lunch on their own or to nourish themselves with foods other than the provided menus, it was seen that there is a need to re-plan the selection of food groups (menus) in a way that ensures adequate and balanced nutrition and takes preventive measures for health problems.