A dimension within Diverse Food Crops
This theme emphasizes the benefits of a nutritious diet, focusing on forest food, seasonal fruits, local produce, and healthy grains for overall well-being.
150 voices speak to this
Neutral
Overall Community Sentiment
Locally available food items that can be included as nutritious meals. Such as Tikhur, Kanda, Chironji, and Amla preserve.
— Sukhdas Mandavi · Mohla, Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, Chhattisgarh
Nutritious diet from the forest: seasonal fruits, jamun, mahua, mango, charoli, jaggery, peanuts, and Shegaon vegetables.
— Surajsingh Parmar · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
Wheat, moong, millet, and corn – all these foods should be given because they contain a large amount of vitamins.
— Anirudha Marai · Sambalpur, Odisha
Brundabati Saraf Most nutritious food - Millet, Maize, Gurji rice
— JAMUNA PRADHANI JAMUNA · Balangir, Odisha
The most nutritious forest foods are Kolyar Bhaji, Mokha Ki Bhaji, Segwa, etc.
— Kachala Choudhary
We get our nutritious diet from the forest, such as Mahua fruit Doli oil in the form of fat, Kodo, Bhaddi, Kulthia, Mahua flowers, Jamun, Mahua kheer, Bhaji, etc.
— Surajsingh Parmar · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
If forest foods like Char, Mahua, Kendu, Mango, and Jam are added to PDS and mid-day meals, consumers will get nutritious food.
— RINA BEHERA · Sundargarh, Odisha
Moringa, rice and Chironji nuts, mango pickle, local rice, etc.
— Surajsingh Parmar · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
Nutritious food found in the forest: Mudhi saga, Chhati saga, Bhadbhadia saga, Koila saga, Munga saga, Ghumi saga, Tartha saga.
— Parsuram Sa · Sundargarh, Odisha
Mahua flowers and other foods obtained from the forest are very nutritious. Therefore, it is appropriate to include these foods in PDS or mid-day meals.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
Here, dal rice, green vegetables, egg, and fish are among the most nutritious foods.
— Jagannath Baraik · Lapung, Ranchi, Jharkhand
Pulses, millet, grains, and green leafy vegetables
— Maya kumari Damor
The most nutritious local food items to be included in PDS and Mid-Day Meal are pulses, as they are an excellent source of protein, fiber, and essential minerals. Additionally, leafy green vegetables like spinach, and local seasonal fruits like guava, berries, and dates should also be included as they are rich in vitamins.
— Jagannath Baraik · Lapung, Ranchi, Jharkhand
Mahua is one of the most nutritious food items, which is very beneficial for our health. Along with this, coarse grains (millets) are also beneficial for health. They should be included. PDS.
— संगीता मीणा · Metali, Dungarpur, Rajasthan
Nutritious diet includes forest vegetables like Mocha Kolyar greens.
— Kachala Choudhary
Chirounji and Amla pickles can be included among the most nutritious foods.
— Sukhdas Mandavi · Mohla, Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, Chhattisgarh
Our most nutritious locally available food items, which should include wheat, maize, and pure fresh food, and be promoted by the government.
— Laxmanlal
One should include Kuri, Bajri, Kodra, Bati, and Maal in vegetarian food items because they are natural remedies and beneficial for the body's health.
— संगीता मीणा · Dachki Jaswantpura, Dungarpur, Rajasthan
Name - Madhab Majhi. In our region, a large amount of ragi, arhar, moong, and kodo millet are cultivated from the forest. It can be used as nutritious food or in the form of PDS (Public Distribution System).
— Prabhasini Batkar
Ragi, Foxtail Millet, Moong
— srinu salbam · MPV 54, Malkangiri, Odisha
Forest produce fruits found in the forest like Kendu, Char, and Mahula contain abundant nutritious food. It would be good to include them in students' mid-day meals.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
It would be good to provide nutritious food like finger millet in meals.
— PRADEEP KUMAR KANHAR · Boudh, Odisha
Forest fruits like Kendu, Char, and Mahul, found in the forest, contain abundant nutritious food. It would be good to include them in the mid-day meals of students.
— DASHARATH SINGH · Jamunkira, Sambalpur, Odisha
We should use nutritious foods in our daily diet that are available locally.
— SHIVRAM YADAV · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
The government should promote the most nutritious foods easily available in our region, such as kodo, kutki, maize, along with tur dal, gram, and horse gram lentils, and include them in PDS and mid-day meals.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
Let's cultivate and eat barnyard millet, little millet, and wheat. They contain vitamins, and the body will remain healthy.
— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha
Wild edible foods: Tendu, Chironji, Amla, Ber, Almond.
— Vijay Kumar bhardwaj · Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh
Nutritious food items include almonds, chia seeds, and citrus fruits.
— Sunita Kumari · Ghorawal, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Local forest produce such as Kendu, Char, Jamun berries, Sarala leaves, and Mahul contain nutrients. To provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children, traditional foods like millet porridge should be included in school mid-day meals. During festivals, do not include packaged food and food from markets/shops to offer to guests.
— DASHARATH SINGH · Jamunkira, Sambalpur, Odisha
Amla, Chironji, Tendu, Mukaiya - these are wild food items that should be included in the midday meal.
— Vijay Kumar bhardwaj · Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh
Forest-produced fruits like Kendu, Char, and Mahula, found in the forest, contain a large amount of nutritious food. It would be excellent to include these in students' midday meals.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
The forest contains nutritious foods like Pitalu, Baya, Tunga, Water Yam, Elephant Foot Yam, Bitter Ginari greens, Putukuli, Honey, Amla, Bahada, and Kendu. The government should consider adding some of these to the PDS (Public Distribution System).
— Prasanna Pradhan · Mayurbhanj, Odisha
The Mahua from our forest is very rich in vitamins and is given to children as food for their nourishment.
— Gitanjali Bhoi · Sundargarh, Odisha
Mahul, char, and sargi have a lot of vitamins. Our bodies used to stay healthy by eating them. It would be good if the government provides food to students.
— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha
The most nutritious locally available moong dal and urad dal should be included in PDS and mid-day meals.
— AbhiLL Ipsa
Amla pickle should be included in mid-day meals among local forest food items, and traditional produce like Kodo, Kutki, maize, and pulses like Kurthi, Moong, Chana, and Rahar should be included in PDS.
— Rupesh Maravi
Forest products such as Jharakunduru, Pitalu Konda, and various other types of edible forest produce are available. These also serve as food for animals and birds, and consuming them provides nourishment.
— Anirudha Marai
Odia people will get more nutrition if they consume butter-rich food, forest sago, tribal sago from the forest, and Kondh roots.
— Geetanjali Kumbgar · Balangir, Odisha
This is nutritious food. Papaya vegetable, spinach greens, and drumstick vegetable are excellent. This will keep children healthy and strong.
— Chanda · Baghauri, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Tungemasha, potatoes, and Panikonda are all found in the forest. If Panikonda is included in PDS and mid-day meals, then children will remain healthy by getting nutritious food.
— Basanti · Dashapalla, Nayagarh, Odisha
AI-synthesised pieces woven from many community voices on this theme. They may contain errors or interpretation — they're a reflection of the stories, not a record of fact.

By cherishing and utilizing the traditional foods and herbs found in our forests and lands, we can sustain ourselves and combat malnutrition while preserving our natural heritage.

A resilient village woman nurtures her family and community through traditional farming, future planning, and the strength of women's voices in Sundargarh.

By incorporating local, traditional grains like ragi and millet into school lunch programs, communities can significantly improve children's health and well-being.

By preserving our traditional, rain-fed seeds and planting them with care, we ensure food for our families and fodder for our animals.