Millets for Children

The dynamic Amanzimtoti Primary organized an Eco-day for schools and eco-groups in their neighbourhood including an interactive stand on millets and heritage foods in celebration of the UN-proclaimed International Year of Millets.

Millets are cereals but differ from wheat, maize and rice as they are very high in nutrients. Millets were the first cultivated crops 4 -5000 years ago and include many varieties of millets, teff and sorghum. In many places, they are a forgotten but fantastic food that has been replaced with other cereals.

Learners were eager to feel, taste and explore millets and other heritage foods presented to the table including a host of phyto nutrient-packed edible weeds during the event. Participants were astounded to learn that blackjacks, nettles, and dandelions among others are edible and good for people’s health and that they can be easily found and for free!

Children enjoyed the different varieties proposed and chomped up heaps of chickweed, African-horned cucumber, spekboom, nasturtium and bowls of cooked millets, which were all for most, the first time to taste ever. The response was amazingly good.

So why not add millet and sorghum to your menu?  Millets are good for our health and climate adaptive, and affordable and eating them will help preserve our ancient grain biodiversity too!