About Pulses

Imagine a plant with a pod, like a pea. Pulses are the seeds that come from inside those pods with the most common types of pulses are lentils, peas, chickpeas, beans and faba beans.

The United Nations has declared 2016 as the International Year of Pulses.

Pulses are a superfood!

Pulses are high in fibre and protein, low in fat, and a source of minerals and essential vitamins.
Because of their special nutritional qualities, pulses are a great food choice for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets.
Pulses can help you maintain a healthy body weight and they are recommended for reducing the risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

Pulses are easy to include in your diet

Pulses are easy to cook with and can go in almost any dish.
Pulses are a more affordable source of protein than meat.
Pulses are available mostly everywhere that groceries are sold.
Pulses can add style to your dishes, as they come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours.

Pulses are good for the environment

Pulses have a much lower water footprint than other sources of protein. For example, it takes 43 times more water to produce an equivalent amount of beef.
Pulses have a lower carbon footprint than other major crops. This is because pulse crops don’t need nitrogen fertilizers, as they are able to naturally draw nitrogen from the air.
Pulses actually increase the health of the soil in which they’re grown, by naturally producing compounds that feed soil microbes.

Saskatchewan is a major producer of pulses

Canada is the world’s largest producer and exporter of pulses, the majority of which come from Saskatchewan
In 2013 Saskatchewan grew 96% of Canada’s lentils
Canada represents 50% of the global lentil trade
Cook with pulses

Some resources to get you started:

Made with lentils from