Forest & Local Foods

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

Our fathers and grandfathers were healthy and strong by eating plenty of nutritious food from the forest, such as Mahua, Tol, Bhadbhadiya Saag, Mamer Saag, Leper Saag, and Karadi.

— Paradeshi Mirdha · Sambalpur, Odisha

Our fathers and grandfathers were healthy and strong by consuming plenty of nutritious food from the forest, such as Mahua, Tola, Bhadabhadia greens, Mamer greens, Leper greens, and bamboo shoots.

— Paradeshi Mirdha · Sambalpur, Odisha

We all fill our stomachs by eating Mahua saag roti, which is our favorite food. Mahua is obtained from trees in the forests, and we also eat roti with bathua saag, which is our favorite food item and is very nutritious.

— Ram Kumari

Chickpea and mustard chutney and corn bread are our favorite foods, which are prepared without fertilizer. Mahua bread is also eaten in our homes; mahua is the flower of a tree found in the forest. We eat it with great love, and it is also nutritious. This keeps our body healthy.

— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

In our region, seasonal produce such as grains, pulses, spinach, and green leafy vegetables have been part of our diet, which promotes nutrition, good digestion, and immunity.

— Jagannath Baraik · Lapung, Ranchi, Jharkhand

The greens and spinach from the field, this food gives strength to our body.

— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

Nutritious diet from the forest: seasonal fruits, jamun, mahua, mango, charoli, jaggery, peanuts, and Shegaon vegetables.

— Surajsingh Parmar · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

Nutritious diet includes forest vegetables like Mocha Kolyar greens.

— Kachala Choudhary

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

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

It is true that bringing vegetables and leafy greens from the forest provides nutritious food for a growing body.

— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

The most nutritious forest foods are Kolyar Bhaji, Mokha Ki Bhaji, Segwa, etc.

— Kachala Choudhary

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

Nutritious food found in the forest: Mudhi saga, Chhati saga, Bhadbhadia saga, Koila saga, Munga saga, Ghumi saga, Tartha saga.

— Parsuram Sa · 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

We were eating Mahul, greens, and temple-prepared food, and our health was good. Now, eating this will be good.

— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, 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

Fanjan greens, Panjaniyaan greens, and Vochhateen greens from the forest are beneficial for the body.

— Devisingh Solanki · 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

We Adivasi communities are communities that depend on nature, collect roots and tubers from the forests, and use them as food, which is very nutritious and also serves as medicine.

— Ram Kumari

Before, we used to eat saag roti, kurthi dal, urad dal, and mahua saag. Sometimes we would find amla and bael from the forest, and that's how we used to sustain our lives.

— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

We used to eat Mahua before, all kinds of Mahua, Rama Mahua. Because we ate all that, our body used to stay well. If you eat that, you too will stay well again.

— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha

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

We, the people of the village, eat food like leafy vegetables, pulses, rice, etc.

— Ram Maravi · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh

We cultivate some nutritious food from the village itself.

— Amar Lal Dhurwey · Mandla, Madhya 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

We get various greens and various fruits from the forest.

— Laba Kumar sabar · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, Odisha

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

Earlier, we used to eat mahua from the sarai in the jungle and sustain our lives. No fertilizer was used at all. Our bodies also remained healthy. Everyone used to be strong and robust, and lived for a long time.

— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

Kantola vegetable, which is very nutritious, is found in the forest of our village. It should be included and promoted in nutritional diets.

— Vijay kanesh · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

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

Using all the fruits, flowers, leaves, greens, and root vegetables obtained from nature's forests in lunch can provide more nutritious food.

— Paradeshi Mirdha · Sambalpur, Odisha

From the forest, we also get many things as vegetables, such as

— Kekti Tekam

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

Local forest produce like Kendu, Char, Jamun berries, Mahula contain nutrients. To provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children, wild leafy greens and traditional foods from the forest should be included in school mid-day meals. During festivals, we do not include packaged food and items from markets/shops to offer to guests.

— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha

We have found Mahua. In ancient times, people used to boil and eat Lukra Mahua, and they used to get vitamins. In this era, if Mahua is eaten, the body remains healthy.

— Gitanjali Bhoi · Sundargarh, Odisha

Local forest produce such as Kendu, Chaar, Jamu Kali, and Mahul contain nutrients. To provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children, wild leafy greens and traditional foods should be included in school mid-day meals. During festivals, we do not include packaged food and items from markets/shops to offer to guests.

— DASHARATH SINGH · Sambalpur, Odisha

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

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