There's No Food

Kids in Wi-Fi countries sometimes complain that there’s no food, when double door freezers are packed to the brim. Some homes have pantries full of all kinds of canned food and dry goods.

“What do you mean there’s no food Sisi?”

“Paul ate the last potato chip dad.”

“Dad, don’t mind my sister. She means vinegar flavor. We still have ketchup potato chips.”

Kids in Wi-Fi countries are disadvantaged in many ways. They cannot go out to the backyard, pull out a plant and see potatoes bathed in soil particles. Washing them is half the fun. Boil them, and food is ready in ten minutes.

Parents in Wi-Fi countries take kids grocery shopping to instill that the soil is the mother of all food. First Nations of Canada and U.S. believe it is the mother of all life, period.

Paul and Sisi, the two kids in this blog are complaining about food in a crinkly bag. Taking them to the store or farmers’ markets reminds them about the potato’s humble beginning. Such markets have all kinds of potatoes: red, white, purple and other colors, depending on the country.

Parents are the original teacher so, a bunch of carrots is a biology lesson waiting to happen: roots, shape and the leaves. Beetroot is messy, but kids should know they can boil it, and also chop and cook the leaves.

What is food? It is something that grows in what North Americans call dirt, and not packaged in a crinkly bag with all that salt.

Nonqaba waka Msimang

Executive Blogger