CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

This chapter contains the design brief, situation analysis, objective of the study,

significance of the study as well as the scope and delimitation of the study.

DESIGN BRIEF

Most of the consumers nowadays are known in buying preserves chips and they might

never outgrow of it. We, Filipinos, are very fond of salty chips or

homemade fruit preserves with long-term storage and higher quality but healthy

diets are still into it. They are generally health-conscious. As related products when

we speak of the word chips, potato chips are one of the first things t h a t c o m e i n

our mind, banana chips and pineapple chips as well. They are

considered fruit chips, yes, when it comes to taste, they really have a delightful

one, but do they really provide enough nutrients for the body? T h i s i s o n e o f t h e

q u e s t i o n s w h y t h e p r o p o n e n t s c o m e u p w i t h a n i d e a o f manufacturing

another kind of chips.

Cucumber or pipino as our product’s main ingredient is the fourth most

cultivated vegetable in the world and known to be one of the best foods for your

body's overall health, often referred to as a super food. (Jockers 2012) I n

a technical sense, cucumbers are actually fruits, not vegetables. (Fruits are parts off

lowering plants that come from the ovary.) But we've become accustomed to

thinking and referring to cucumbers as vegetables (Mateljan 2015).

Cucumber peel is a good source of dietary fiber that helps reduce

constipation, and offers some protection against colon cancers by eliminating

toxic compounds from the gut. Cucumbers have mild diuretic property, which

perhaps attributed to their free-water, and potassium and low sodium content. This

helps in checking weight gain and high blood pressure. They surprisingly have a

high amount of vitamin K. Vitamin-K has been found to have a potential role in

bone strength by promoting osteotrophic (bone mass building) activity. It also

has established role in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease patients by limiting

neuronal damage in their brain. (Alex Du Toit, 2012).

Promoting a healthy and convenient way of eating chips by introducing our very

own Pipino chips to the public consumers would also benefit not just the

consumers with the health nutrition content it has but also helps the Filipino

farming industries in the country as well.

SITUATION ANALYSIS

Cucumbers are popular long, lean, and green garden vegetables. Technically, they’re fruits

from the same family as watermelons and pumpkins, but most people consider them

veggies. Few foods, as they say, are as cool as a cucumber. A cucumber's nutritional

benefits are ideal for healthy eating, because these low-calorie veggies contain many

hydrating properties and valuable nutrients. In 2019, the cucumber was even elevated

to the status of superfood, according to Men's Health. While most people think of

cucumbers as vegetables, they are actually a fruit. They contain seeds and grow from
the ovaries of flowering plants. Cucumbers are members of the plant

family Cucurbitaceae, which also includes squashes and melons. The most common

type of slicing cucumber found in a grocery store is the garden cucumber, Cucumis

sativus, according to Plants For a Future.

Skip the potato chip aisle and make your own at home. These low-carb chips are the

perfect snack and replacement to your favorite potato chips. Be sure to dry them well

before baking so that they can crisp up. The cucumbers on the edge of the pan will also

cook faster than those in the center so we recommend taking them off the tray as they

finish and let the others keep going for longer. These cucumber chips will totally curb

your chip cravings, but without all the carbs! Salt and vinegar flavored, but easy to

customize, they are perfectly crunchy, salty, and taste like junk food with no junk.

OBJECTIVE OF THE SUDY

The goal of this study is to achieve the following:

1. Produce the best tasting cucumber peel chips in Mati City.

2. Make chips from cucumber peel.

3. Ascertain the acceptability of cucumber peel in making chips in terms of:

 Appearance

 Taste

 Color

 Texture
  General acceptability

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Consumers: This study will introduce a new way of enjoying healthy and

nutritious cucumber chips in Mati City.

Community: This will contribute to the communal fund and will help uplift the way of

living of the people in the community for the employment it will offer.

Local Government: This will serve as a destination for

municipality’s promotion. This will also help to provide a new idea and a new

source of income in the city.

Future researchers: This may serve as a valuable reference and basis to the students

and other researchers conducting related studies.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

This study was focused on determining the acceptability of cucumber peel chips in City

of Mati. It targets the students and employees, most especially the chips lovers in the

said location.
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

This chapter presents the analysis of the problem, review of related literature, process

and production, theoretical framework, conceptual model, and the operational definition

of the technical terms.

ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM

Undoubtedly, any business begins with consideration of those costs which its

implementation will require. In the case of entrepreneurial activities related to the

cultivation of vegetables, there may be different options. When compiling a business

plan for growing cucumbers, one must take into the preference of consumers to eat
cucumber chips since potato chips are most known chips in the area. The increasing

prices also of cucumber and oil must be considered for production.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Uses of cucumber

Cucumbers contain 96% per cent of water. They are ideal for detoxification and

preventing dehydration. Cucumbers are rich in phytonutrients and vitamin K. They are

also a very good source of pantothenic acid and Molybdenum. They also contain

copper, potassium, manganese, vitamin C, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin B1.

Though commonly thought to be a vegetable, cucumber is actually a fruit. It’s high in

beneficial nutrients, as well as certain plant compounds and antioxidants that may help

treat and even prevent some conditions.

Also, cucumbers are low in calories and contain a good amount of water and soluble

fiber, making them ideal for promoting hydration and aiding in weight loss.

Detoxifies your body

Cucumber is 95 percent water and this water flushes out all the toxins from your system

and hydrates your body. The water acts as a broom and sweeps the waste products

from your body. Cucumber is thus a great detox.

Keeps your brain healthy

Fisetin, an anti-inflammatory flavonol present in cucumber, is known to be important for

brain health. Eating cucumber will protect nerve cells from the decline due to aging and
will improve memory. According to a study conducted on mice, Fisetin was found to

prevent learning impairments and progressive memory loss.

Cucumbers Aid in Weight Loss

When it comes to weight loss, calories are important. And thanks to only 16 calories per

one-cup serving, cucumbers are a great food to aid in weight loss. They can fill you up,

without adding many calories to your day. As discussed, they also contain loads of

healthy vitamins to give your body a healthy dose of nutrients which is key for losing

weight in a healthy way.

Maintain Healthy Digestion

Any vegetable high in water content will be able to promote healthy digestion by

keeping you hydrated. However, cucumbers, particularly their skin contains insoluble

fiber which helps to add bulk to your stool and aid in the clean-out process. And though

this subject is one typically kept private, everyone knows just how important healthy

digestion is!

Reduce Blood Sugar Levels

Cucumbers have been shown to be especially beneficial for diabetics as they’ve been

shown to reduce blood sugar levels. Cucumbers have an index of 15 on the glycemic

index scale (anything under 55 is considered low). Their fiber content also slows down

the digestion of carbohydrates and sugars which in turn reduces blood sugar levels.

Have Anti-Cancer Benefits

stay healthy and reduce your risk of cancer. Cucumbers, in particular, are a member of

the Cucurbitaceae family and contain high levels of these nutrients which may help in

preventing cancer. They also contain fisetin (mentioned earlier), caffeic acid, and lutein

which have all been shown to reduce cancerous symptoms.

Reduce Inflammation

Inflammation in the body can lead to a whole host of problems. But thankfully there are

plenty of foods that can combat inflammation, namely cucumbers. This is due to the

presence of polyphenols called lignans. Cucumbers can reduce inflammation externally

too when used directly on the skin.

Cucumbers Promote Healthy Skin

There’s a reason why every spa seems to have cucumbers on hand. Not only does

cucumber water make for a super refreshing that can promote relaxation, but

cucumbers also have amazing skin benefits when applied topically. Cucumbers, most

popularly placed on the eyelids, cool the area and ease facial swelling – cool as a

cucumber, right? Cucumbers can also serve as a great way to cool down sunburn!

Diminish Bad Breath

Got a case of bad breath? Instead of reaching for a piece of gum, you can actually grab

a slice of cucumber. Cucumbers’ high water concentration prevents dry mouth and the
crunchy texture can help eliminate odor-causing bacteria by removing food particles and

plaque and stimulating saliva production.

Lower Blood Pressure

It may be time to add cucumbers to your diet. Of course, cucumbers alone aren’t going

to lower your blood pressure single-handedly, but as a part of a healthy overall diet,

they can aid in lowering blood pressure in large part due to their potassium

content. One large cucumber contains 442mg of potassium which is an essential

mineral for regulating blood pressure.

Provide Heartburn Relief

There’s no question: heartburn is a pain. Whether it’s brought on by some late-night

pepperoni pizza or the joys of pregnancy, finding relief while it’s happening is a top

priority. Heartburn happens due to acid from the stomach reaching into the esophagus

and throat, which causes that fiery burn. Instead of reaching for a Tums, however,

cucumber can be a great preventative/reliever. An alkaline vegetable, cucumber will

reduce the amount of acid available in the stomach and thus can cool heartburn.

Promote Healthy Hair & Nails

Healthy, glowing hair and strong nails are a goal for many of us. But with age, they can

be more difficult to come by. Silica, found in cucumbers, is a trace mineral that

strengthens connective tissues such as our hair and nails. Just make sure not to peel
off the skin of a cucumber, which is where most of the silica, as well as various other

nutrients, are found.

Combat Stress

Known as the stress-relieving vitamin, cucumbers contain vitamin B1 or thiamine. And

while it may only make up about 3% of your daily value, every little bit counts. Plus,

eating a healthy diet, which includes cucumbers is key to managing stress levels, plus

the crunchiness of this particular veggie can be a great choice for anxiety-prone times.

Properties of Cucumber

Here’s the nutrition info for one cup of cucumbers:

 Calories: 16

 Protein: 1 g

 Fat: 0 g (0 g saturated)

 Fiber: 1 g

 Carbohydrates: 4 g

 Sugar: 2 g

 Sodium: 2 mg

And beyond their low-cal package, cucumbers pack a lot of important nutrients:

 Vitamin C: 14 percent of the RDI

 Vitamin K: 62 percent of the RDI

 Magnesium: 10 percent of the RDI

 Manganese: 12 percent of the RDI

Local Studies

As for now, there are no available food products in the local market that process

cucumber into food chips in City of Mati. Hence, this study is conducted to determine

the acceptability of cucumber peel chips as well as its nutritional value in order to

improve its quality and make it a viable source for income generation.