10th February World Pulses Day

Did you know that pulses are among the most climate-friendly foods? 

Pulses, also known as legumes, are the edible seeds of leguminous plants cultivated for food. Dried beans, lentils and peas are the most commonly known and consumed types of pulses. Pulses do not include crops that are harvested green (e.g. green peas, green beans)—these are classified as vegetable crops.

They are packed with nutrients and have a high protein content, making them an ideal source of protein particularly in regions where meat and dairy are not physically or economically accessible. Pulses are low in fat and rich in soluble fibre, which can lower cholesterol and help in the control of blood sugar. Because of these qualities they are recommended by health organizations for the management of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart conditions. Pulses have also been shown to help combat obesity. They are packed with nutrients and have a high protein content, making them an ideal source of protein particularly in regions where meat and dairy are not physically or economically accessible.

Pulses improve soil productivity, increasing the resilience of farming systems.  Pulses provide a better life for farmers in water-scarce environments, as they have a low water footprint and can better tolerate drought and climate-related disasters. 

2016 was declared as the International Year of Pulses and we started the year off with a wonderful display of picture books that highlighted pulses. We took the liberty of including beans and peas because that really added to the cachet of books. So this week I think we'll put out some books about pulses again!

The good thing about school children today is that they are far more interested in food and where it comes from and because the playground is very multicultural there is more talk about food as well. Crunch and Sip in schools has also helped. Children eat dhal and hummus at lunchtime, two superfoods made from pulses!

So what to read? Start with something general like this so that students understand what we mean by pulses:

 

Then have some fun. Read:

Want a serial? Your library might have these:

And if this is not enough, look here.