In our fast-paced lives, finding a balance between taste and nutrition is essential. While traditional breakfasts are vital for long-term health, urbanization has led to a shift in dietary habits. However, we can still support both farmers and city dwellers by embracing a mutually beneficial link.
The Digital Connection:
India's digital connectivity makes it easy for metro dwellers to locate farms online and purchase directly from farmers. More farmers are now focusing on value-added products to sustain their livelihoods and avoid losses. Choosing native foods, such as millets, not only supports farmers but also promotes good eating habits and overall health.
The Importance of Native Foods:
Relying on processed cereal as a quick breakfast option is not a sustainable solution for our health. Instead, a morning meal should comprise native ingredients like cold-pressed oils, ghee, millets, native rice, herbs, and spices. These traditional recipes promote a healthy gut and provide a balanced mix of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Millet Poha: A Healthful Twist:
Preparing millet poha is an excellent way to invest in health and contribute to a farmer's livelihood. Unlike refined rice poha, which lacks essential nutrients and quickly converts to glucose during digestion, millet poha offers a slow release of energy, preventing blood sugar spikes. This steady energy flow keeps us active and alert throughout the day.
A Variety of Millet-based Foods:
The increasing awareness of millets has led to a variety of millet-based products, from cookies to noodles and flours. While this trend is positive, it's essential to consume millets in combination with other native foods. For instance, farmers used to eat a big noon meal of cooked millets, providing them with strength and energy for field work. However, for those leading a sedentary lifestyle, a mid-way solution like flattened millets is more suitable.
The Versatility of Millet Poha:
Millet poha is not limited to breakfast; it can also serve as a tasty lunchbox option or evening snack. By adding roasted peanuts, fresh coriander, and lemon juice, the poha becomes even more flavorful and nutritious. Creative cooks can experiment with tangy masala versions or enhance nutrition with microgreens and toasted seeds.
Ideal Millets for Poha:
Millet poha can be made with various millet varieties like bajra and ragi. Additionally, there's a cooling version that incorporates curd, buttermilk, fresh ginger, and green chillies. Preserving these traditional recipes and passing them down to future generations is crucial to retain our culinary heritage.
Embracing Native Cuisine:
Just as we embrace cuisines from other cultures, exploring and celebrating our unique native recipes is equally important. When foreign visitors taste millet poha, it leaves a lasting impression of India's diverse food culture, cooking techniques, and seasonal produce.
Reviving the Glory of Poha Meals:
Let us bring back the glory of poha meals to our dining tables several times a week. It's time to bid farewell to sugary, preservative-laden breakfast bowls and embrace the wholesome goodness of millet poha for a healthier and more fulfilling start to our day.
Shop Our Bajra Poha - https://twobrothersindiashop.com/products/bajra-poha-i-gluten-free
Shop Our Ragi Poha - https://twobrothersindiashop.com/products/ragi-poha-i-gluten-free
