Musi and mtondo used to pound maize in the village.

The staple food in Malawi is nsima (en-si-ma), which is a thick maize porridge that is molded into patties and served with either beans, meat, or vegetables collectively called ndiwo (en-dee-woh). Malawians also eat rice, bread, cassava and potatoes. Basically, the keystone of any Malawian meal is starch and the “relish” may be very little and only intended to add flavor. This high carbohydrate diet is great for working in the field all day, but for the slightly more sedentary volunteer it can sometimes lead to weight gain, especially for women.

In the vast majority of homes, food is cooked over a three-stone fire. Women (and children helpers) are responsible for everything concerning the food from the market shopping to washing of dishes.

Malawians will never turn down a dinner guest, even if they have very little to offer. Usually the guest is served first followed by the man of the house, then the women and finally the children. As nsima is eaten with the hands, everyone washes in a communal bowl before and after the meal. Once again, the guest washes first and so on. There is no shame in eating until you are full. In fact, guests will often be encouraged to eat more and then more again. This reflects the inexhaustible Malawian principle of hospitality and most volunteers grow to really enjoy the warmth of sharing meals at a Malawian home.

One will also find a few commercial dining options in most villages. The most common is the “chippie” stand which is a metal stand used to fry potatoes over a fire. Customers can either purchase a small bag to go or eat directly off of the stand. Some villages may even have a simple mud hut establishment that serves nsima and ndiwo at very cheap prices.