FERMENTED SOYBEANS

A traditional fermented food made from soybeans often served as breakfast. Its distinctive odor and sticky, slimy texture make many people wonder if it is really edible. People typically eat natto by stirring it with chopsticks and putting it on a bowl of rice, but are finding other ways, such as putting it in sushi, pasta, and omelets. When I was a kid, my mother often tried to convince me into eating natto , saying, “This one tiny bean contains all the five essential nutrients.” I don’t know how many times I protested, but now I’m grateful for her advice, as I grew up to be a healthy man.