Arrowroots gain popularity as a breakfast meal among Nakuru residents
Jane Gatune at her arrowroots farm in Gilgil.
Breakfast is often celebrated as the most important meal of the day, and for good reason. A balanced breakfast may help get your day going on the right foot while offering health benefits and a good start toward meeting daily dietary recommendations.
Gladys Wanjiru from Njoro tells Mtaa Wangu that she stopped taking bread and ndazi two years ago after she noticed that she would feel hungry very early before lunchtime.
"I sell uniforms and also crochet sweaters and I don't get to go home for lunch. I used to take bread for breakfast and I found myself taking lunch quite early," she explains.
Gladys says that she found herself going beyond her budget since she would get hungry early and had to spend extra on street food.
Arrowroots and other traditional foods have replaced bread at the breakfast table.
She has since resulted in taking arrowroots, sweet potatoes, and even food from last night since she is not only saving her money but also is very nutritious and healthy.
"My morning routine has since changed. I take the traditional food to accompany my tea. I also take the previous night's leftover food to avoid wastage," she notes.
Gladys reveals that since the change she only buys a snack or fruits to complement the breakfast enough to carry her through the day.
Jane Gatune from Gilgil began taking arrowroots and sweet potatoes for breakfast since the shop was quite far from home and partly due to the convenience of having them grown on her farm.
"I have planted the tubers on my farm and I cannot sell what I can't eat myself, it doesn't add up. It starts from home," she says.
She says that she harvests up to 500 kg of the tubers but she doesn't sell all of them noting also she gets a few of the quality produce.
" Most people tend to keep the rejects and eat those but it's important to also take the quality produce because as a farmer you also deserve the best to be healthy for the next planting season," she says.
Jane notes that it has become a routine engrained in her household that even the visitors get to take the arrowroots and sweet potatoes.
She reveals that even her daughters don't take bread or Ndazi for breakfast.