WORLD PULSES DAY

 

Every February 10th we celebrate the World Pulses Day. Pulses, also known as legumes, they are edible seeds of leguminous plants cultivated for food. Just to mention the most common consumed pulses, we have lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans, etc. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) calls pulses only to legumes with dry, edible seeds, with low fat content, they are classified as pulses. FAO does not consider pulses legume species used as vegetables (e.g., green peas, green beans), for oil extraction (e.g., soybean, groundnut) and for sowing purposes (e.g., clover, alfalfa). For Farmers pulses are vital crops because they can sell them, what is so important for their economy but at the same time they can consume them and obtain all the benefits these legumes have.

First of all, pulses have essential nutritional benefits because they are full of nutrients and a high protein content, making them a vital source of proteins. They are very low in fat, so they can lower cholesterol and help in the control of blood sugar, and also can help to fight obesity; they are rich in fiber, too.  All these qualities make that Health Organizations recommend to cosume pulses to manage diseases like diabetes and heart conditions. For these reasons many nutricionists say that we should consume a bowl of pulses a day if we want to keep the doctors away.

How to make children consume pulses?

Pulses are an excellent complementary food for infants and young children to meet their daily nutritional needs. They can be incorporated into children’s diets through family diets and school meal programs. Getting kids involved in cooking can make them excited about the dishes they helped create. Get a book from the library or search on the internet information based on how pulses grow, so your kids can learn where their food comes from. If you can get your children excited about the process, they will be much more enthusiastic about trying the delicious recipes they can prepare. This process has to be very friendly and simple, to make the little ones the first consumers of pulses at home. Keep in mind that World Pulses Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the nutritional benefits pulses have and their contribution to sustainable food systems and a world without hunger.

You can prepare the following recipes at home, you are going to have fun and the result will be a healty meal.  Enjoy it!

ü Classic Lentil Burgers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQApntt5ts8

ü Lentil Veggie Nuggets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtEZ3ibYXjE

ü Black bean and Avocado Wraps

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGsLrpponmc

ü Black bean and corn salad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U19MOjvGCKU

Lcda. Narcisa Auria J.