A dimension within Fresh Produce & Greens
Emphasizes locally sourced and foraged ingredients for a healthy diet.
150 voices speak to this
Positive
Overall Community Sentiment
Nutritious diet includes forest vegetables like Mocha Kolyar greens.
— Kachala Choudhary
The most nutritious forest foods are Kolyar Bhaji, Mokha Ki Bhaji, Segwa, etc.
— Kachala Choudhary
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
Moringa, rice and Chironji nuts, mango pickle, local rice, etc.
— Surajsingh Parmar · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
Nutritious local tubers like Pitikanda, Charendakanda, and Naangalakanda, found in the forest, can be included in dishes.
— Padmalochan Majhi · Ratachua, Rayagada, Odisha
Nutritious diet from the forest: seasonal fruits, jamun, mahua, mango, charoli, jaggery, peanuts, and Shegaon vegetables.
— Surajsingh Parmar · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
From the forest, we collect ruguda mushrooms, mudhi saag, kuiler saag, girel flowers, bhindua kadi, and so on. If all these are nutritious foods for us, they should be included in the midday meal.
— RINA BEHERA · Hemagiri, Sundargarh, Odisha
Pulses, millet, grains, and green leafy vegetables
— Maya kumari Damor
Nutritious food found in the forest: Mudhi saga, Chhati saga, Bhadbhadia saga, Koila saga, Munga saga, Ghumi saga, Tartha saga.
— Parsuram Sa · Sundargarh, Odisha
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
Forest products such as bitter tubers, certain wild edibles, small leafy greens, bamboo shoots, and millet ladoo should be given to children for their midday meal. For guests, home-cooked food is provided, along with market-bought items like biscuits, sweets, eggs, alcohol, and meat.
— Ramadas Badanayak · Kamarpalli, Malkangiri, Odisha
Amla, Chironji, Tendu, Mukaiya - these are wild food items that should be included in the midday meal.
— Vijay Kumar bhardwaj · Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh
Puwadiyan vegetable, Vochhanie vegetable, Kunjara
— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
In PDS midday meals, dal, egg, rice, and saga badi tarkari (curry with greens and lentil fritters) are being served. Additionally, various types of greens, including jungle greens and moringa greens, are also provided.
— Ulapi Sahu · Patnāgarh, Balangir, Odisha
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
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
In our forest, fruits, roots, leaves, flowers, and leafy vegetables grow naturally. There are no chemicals in them, and they are completely nutritious. It would be good to serve them for lunch.
— Paradeshi Mirdha · Sambalpur, Odisha
Greens like Kilod, Panjaniya, Ragjari, etc.
— Surajsingh Parmar · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
These people are serving food (perhaps including MDH products). At the place where this food is provided, they should sometimes include a fried item. Please give me my leafy greens and dal, specifically drumstick leaves and kulera leaves. Also, serve kala bhaja, puda bhaja, and guda bhaja (various types of fried side dishes).
— Ulapi Sahu · Balangir, Odisha
For the midday meal, some 'maudia' (puffed rice snacks) and other light items should be provided. In addition to that, various greens found from the forest, such as drumstick leaves and 'kule' (another type of edible green), should also be given.
— Ulapi Sahu · Balangir, Odisha
In the forest, there are many types of food, such as various nutritious tubers (kandha), which can be given during midday meals in schools and also protect against various diseases.
— Deepanjali Nayak
To include forest-based foods like Mahua ladoo, Char ladoo, Phuljhi, etc., in PDS and midday meals.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
Consuming Karela, Kotla, Sribala, Khadbus, and Dhavda provides many different benefits to our body.
— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
It is true that bringing vegetables and leafy greens from the forest provides nutritious food for a growing body.
— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
From the forest, we also get many things as vegetables, such as
— Kekti Tekam
Here, dal rice, green vegetables, egg, and fish are among the most nutritious foods.
— Jagannath Baraik · Lapung, Ranchi, Jharkhand
Fanjan greens, Panjaniyaan greens, and Vochhateen greens from the forest are beneficial for the body.
— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
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 government is giving new things to eat in MDH, which means that if we add some of our forest-based foods, like fried items (such as fried ridge gourd, fried wild yam), and also add greens and lentils, it would be good.
— Ulapi Sahu · Balangir, Odisha
From the forest, we get leafy vegetables, tubers, mushrooms, and fruits. All these kinds of things are available.
— Laba Kumar sabar · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, Odisha
In our village, the hukli bhaji and phinda (local vegetables) that are gathered, we should use whatever God has provided us to eat from them for nutrition to combat malnutrition.
— Vijay kanesh · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
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
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
Local forest produce like Kendu, Chaar, Jamukoli, and Mahul are rich in nutrients. Wild leafy greens and traditional foods should be included in school midday meals to provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children. During festivals, we do not provide packaged food and market/shop items to guests.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
Every day, different items should be given. Spinach dal should also be mixed. Along with that, puri. And regarding what we have, what do they call it, what do they call it, some black bitter gourd that tastes a bit bitter, this too should be fried and prepared as a vegetable.
— Ulapi Sahu · Balangir, Odisha
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
Wild edible foods: Tendu, Chironji, Amla, Ber, Almond.
— Vijay Kumar bhardwaj · Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh
Twenty handfuls of broken leaves, spinach of koili, grilled flowers, radish greens, and other nutritious food.
— RINA BEHERA · Sundargarh, Odisha
By bringing the greens found in the forest, powdering them, and including them in PDS, they can be used as nutritious food.
— sudhir gamanga · Birikota, Rayagada, 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
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 integrating diverse farming practices with deep knowledge of local forest foods, we ensure our community's sustenance and future well-being.

Our community advocates for the integration of traditional, locally sourced foods into public programs to nourish children and preserve cultural heritage for future generations.