There was a wealthy farmer named Mr. Buba. He had four wives, ten children, and graineries full of guinea corn, beans and ground nuts and rice. However, he gave strict instructions to his wives they were to use only guinea corn for cooking. The other grains were for selling so that he could get money to buy things. He himself often sent to the market and bought many different kinds of food which he liked such as roasted meat on a stick, guavas, bananas, mangos, bean cakes and pancakes. He felt good and his stomach was satisfied.

His children, however, were weak, had reddish hair, and swollen tummies, swollen feet and were often crying. One day a health worker came to visit the compound. She was making home visits to see what the health needs of the people were in the village. Mr. Buba was out but she talked to his wives. She asked the women what they fed the children and when they told her just plenty of guinea corn porridge, the health worker realized the problem. She told them that was good but that the children need ground nuts, beans, rice, fruits and green vegetables also in order to make their bodies strong. She told the women how to make porridge putting ground nuts in for the small children. Eating foods with guinea corn, beans and ground nuts will especially help to build a strong body so that when illness comes the body can fight off the disease and become healthy again.

After the health worker left, the wives discussed what they had learned. They decided to use some of the ground nuts to add to the porridge. They made some bean cakes and also sometimes used beans in the soup. Sometimes they cooked rice instead of guinea corn. One day Mr. Buba came home when they were eating. When he saw that the children had ground nuts and beans and even rice, he became very angry and demanded to know who had given them this food. When he learned it was their mothers who had prepared these foods, he reprimanded them strongly for disobeying his orders. He was so angry that he drove his wives away from his compound. The children all began to cry when their mothers left. As Mr. Buba saw his wives going and all the children crying he called the women back. When they returned, they explained to him why they had disobeyed his orders. They also pointed out to Mr. Buba how much healthier and happier their children had grown in the past weeks. Had he not noticed they were not always fussing and crying as in the past, their hair was black, they were stronger and their faces began to shine.

Mr. Buba's anger had subsided and he listened to his wives. He had to agree that there had been a change in his children. After thinking about what the health worker had said, he too decided to follow the advice. When he went to the market he bought meat sometimes for his family. He brought home limes, oranges, guavas, bananas and mangos for the children to eat. He was glad to see his children happy and playing with each other.

There was less crying and their bodies did look strong and healthy. |

Questions:

1. What was Mr. Babu's occupation?

2. What food did he allow his family to eat?

3. What was the condition of the children's bodies?

4. Why didn't he want them to use the ground nuts and beans?

5. What happened to the children when they started eating ground nuts and beans?