Gourmix: Healthy instant food

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos are naturally drawn to instant food. This is manifested by the profuse availability of instant food in the market – instant noodles, 3-in-1 instant coffee, instant fruit juice, instant carbonara, instant sisig, and the list goes on.

In a cultural context, Filipinos have crafted a kind of environment where practicality, convenience, and affordability come along with the kind of food we eat. Sociologists attribute this phenomenon mainly to the country’s relentless poverty. 

More often than not, instant foods fall under the category of unhealthy food which old folks would never recommend as part of a sound diet. 

The rise of the healthy, instant food

But now there is Gourmix.  Gourmix  comes from two words “gour”  (from the word gourmet, which is defined as food of very high quality) and “mix” because it is a mixture of locally-produced cereals, grains and grits (milled rice, white corn grits, adlay grits) and enriched with malunggay powder, soybean Texturized Vegetable Protein (TVP), ground mungbean, and yellow ginger turmeric.

This instant mix is a complete and smart food, high in protein and anti-oxidant content, and  comprised of 53 percent carbohydrates, 22.3 percent crude protein, 5.62 percent total fat, 10.32 percent moisture, and 7.96 percent ash.

Rose Mary G. Aquino of the DA-Cagayan Valley Research Center (CVRC) in Ilagan, Isabela conceptualized Gourmix, a product of goodwill and compassion. It started during when Aquino assisted Typhoon Yolanda victims in Tacloban City early in 2014 through the promotion of soybean production and processing.

During the soybean techno-demo field day, Aquino  was among those who volunteered in the distribution of the US Manna Rice Pack, a relief good package for starving children,  acquired by a group of clergy led by Sister Eloisa David. During one of their operations, Sister Eloisa challenged Aquino, being a legume expert that she is, to develop a local version of the US Manna Rice Pack.

 “Why not develop our own, right? Something that is very close to the Filipinos, something that is more familiar to them,” Aquino recounted. It was from this challenge that Gourmix was conceptualized.

Packed with too much goodness

The team of researchers from DA-CVRC selected the combination of ingredients for Gourmix, those which are locally, abundantly, freshly, and continuously being produced by the farmers in Cagayan Valley – not to mention the nutritional benefits they contain.

Gourmix is the next-best-thing in the instant-food domain. Among the ingredients in this complete and smart food include: rice, white corn grits, adlay grits, TVP soybean, ground mungbean, malunggay powder, and turmeric ginger.

Rice. It is our main staple. Pinoys are widely-known as rice-eaters. A day can’t go by without having rice in every meal. It will therefore comfort us to know that a pack of Gourmix has rice as part of its main ingredients. Rice has attributes which are beneficial to our health. It provides fast and instant energy; regulates and improves bowel movement; stabilizes blood sugar levels; and provides essential source of Vitamin B1 to the human body.

White corn grits. This crop is as widely-known as rice and is now considered as one of the major food staples in the country. White corn is identified to have a  low glycemic index,  and thus helps in preventing diabetes. It also aids in alleviating digestive problems such as constipation and hemorrhoids, as well as lowering the risk of colon cancer.

Adlay grits. This rice-like crop is getting a fair recognition these days because of government’s  effort in the adaption and promotion of this high-value crop. Adlay is an indigenous crop mostly found in the regions of Cagayan and Zamboanga. It is an excellent source of lipids, amino acids, thiamine or Vitamin B-complex, iron, calcium, has anti-oxidants, and is high in carbohydrates.

TVP Soybean. It is a defatted soy flour product often used as a meat substitute or extender.

Soybean is an excellent health food, being prescribed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a food medicine. It is the most inexpensive plant-based protein source that includes 40-45 percent protein. It contains isoflavones that has anti-oxidant properties which has an important role in preventing degenerative diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, it contains lunasin, a peptide found in small quantities of soybean seeds that blocks cell division, keeping cancer-related genes switched off.

Ground mungbean. Known to be rich in Vitamin C, protein and minerals, ground mungbean is a must-eat vegetable.

Malunggay powder. Scientists and health workers from around the world call malunggay a “miracle tree” or “nature’s medicine cabinet,” as it is loaded with vitamins and minerals that give effective remedy against any kind of ailments. It also strengthens the immune system, eye muscles; helps relax and promotes good sleep; and has phytochemicals that inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

Turmeric ginger. Studies show that extracts from turmeric have been found to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, and helps reduce symptoms of indigestion, such as bloating and gas.

Preparing Gourmix

Preparing this nutritious instant lugaw is simple and easy. Just sauté garlic, add two liters of water, bring to boil, then add content of package. Stir, cover, and cook over low heat for 10-15 minutes then voila! A healthy yet simple dish that serves 5-6 persons per 250-gram pack. It costs less time and less money too, because it is very affordable at P 20/pack.

Future plans

Gourmix bagged first place in the “Best Innovative Product” award in this year’s Agriculture and Fisheries National Technology Forum and Product Exhibition (NTF) organized by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR).

It captured the hearts of the judges because of its noble intent as it targets poorly-nourished children, currently supporting the feeding program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Education (DepED) particularly in their need for highly nutritious food. It is also an ideal relief food in times of calamities.   

The research team behind Gourmix was awarded a research grant for technology commercialization as part of their prize, and according to Aquino, the project would focus on the improvement of product packaging and labeling, trademark application, and registration through the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and the Intellectual Property Rights Office (IPRO) of BAR, and product promotion and marketing.

As the existing food war between healthy and unhealthy foods continues, an advocacy such as this  aims to challenge the eating habits of what we call the “instant generation”,  making  unhealthy foods less appealing, redirecting Pinoys to  more nutritious and healthier food options.