Indian food tradition: By Meghna Sharma (New Delhi)

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We speak to lots of parents, grandparents and great-grandparents about the Indian food tradition and some stories are simply nostalgic. All stories are special for us. They are raw, unfiltered, peculiarly nostalgic, and explain the contrast between traditional lifestyle/eating patterns and modern-day lifestyle/eating patterns in the most basic yet beautiful way. If you are a parent and this story took you down the memory lane, share with your friends and family.

Hi, I am Meghna Sharma, mother of two daughters, 10 and 2.5 years old. I was born and brought up in Delhi but my native place is Rajasthan. The culturally enriched state leaves an impeccable impact on our lives too.

Life is good but sometimes I miss my maternal house very much. Since we live in Delhi we used to go to our Nani’s house during summer vacations, you can imagine the weather of Rajasthan during summers, but still the fun was unlimited. My maternal house was basically at Churu, a place near Bikaner.

May and June were the hottest months, and during that period dehydration was the most common thing we all suffered from, as the ground water of Rajasthan was mostly salty and we were not used to it. But nothing to worry when nani maa (grandmother) and mausiya(Aunties) were there to take care of us. To save us from dehydration they use to make a lot of healthy and delicious drinks like Amma panna, imli ka panna, bajre ki raabri, mango shake and nimbu ki shikanji. Rasna, tang and other cold drinks were like a dream for us.

I have a very small family in nanihal with 7 mausi and 2 mama’s plus 1 mamij with we kids among 1 or 2 of each, total we are around 25-30 humans not much and my mother being the eldest of the small army but disciplined and stick to our roots.

Going to Rajasthan and not having their main cuisine daal-baati-churma…is like going to Agra and not visiting Taj Mahal. The world famous rajasthani Panchmel daal is a mixture of 5 daals altogether with tadka or desi ghee to strengthen bones. Kair-sangri ki sabzi which is made with lots of nuts is must have and without Besan ke gatte ki sabzi your trip can never be complete. Bikaneri sponge rasgulla …l can feel water in my mouth only by writing

Tulsi became the sacred plant….which we used to worship since childhood and we all very well know the medicinal properties of this holy plant. When we used to visit in winters, Tulsi and ginger tea was a must to get rid of cold and cough.

But now food has completely changed, there is so much Adulteration these days, that we are not able to give the kind of stuff we had in our childhood. In our childhood, even the normal home made cooked food was intact with all the nutrients and unknowing we were getting all required nutrients.

But still where there is a will there is a way.. We have to take some time out from our busy and high gadgets life to make food interesting for them. Out of all the dried fruits my daughters only eat raisins, so I make powder of different nuts and hide it in their chapatis and parathas…job done with fun. Instead of ordering junk food from outside, I used to make it at home with whole wheat. I even make protein powder at home to mix in their milk.These are some small things which can make a big difference in a kid’s health.

I feel really blessed to have such an enriched life and I am trying to pass it on to my little one’s in every way and manner I can.

Indian food tradition

Thank you so much for providing me with a platform to share a bit of me. I truly believe that nowadays children do not get the kind of nutrition and food that we used to get in childhood. It is great that Iyurved is making such nutritious food products for kids.

My kids loved the chocolate spread. Its a combo of health and taste. looking forward for Iyurved’s up coming products for kid’s immunity, eye health and brain development.

Let’s stay healthy and safe.

Regard,

MEGHANA SHARMA