Diet and Meal Preparation Corn is the primary dietary mainstay for Mayans. The Food Guide Pyramid is not part of their understanding, nor is it possible given the lack of vegetables for part of the year. Malnutrition is widespread. Women spend a large part of their day preparing corn tortillas, made fresh up to three times a day. In Figure 5 I am being taught how to take dry corn off the cob.
Elders work until they are too frail to perform their daily duties.
Bush doctors provide the main medical interventions for village elders. Children attend school in their village through what is comparable to 6th grade. There is no time for personal development and educational programs such as 4-H. Children are given household or farm responsibilities as soon as they are able. Figure 7 shows children rinsing corn in the stream. My experience was an extreme example of an opportunity to provide service to a diverse population.