Local Food Traditions

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 addition to the lentil dish (dialunda) served to the children of our Anganwadi during midday meals, they should also be provided with our forest-based products, such as seasonal leafy greens.

— Parsuram Sa · Sundargarh, Odisha

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

Amla, Chironji, Tendu, Mukaiya - these are wild food items that should be included in the midday meal.

— Vijay Kumar bhardwaj · Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh

To include forest-based foods like Mahua ladoo, Char ladoo, Phuljhi, etc., in PDS and midday meals.

— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha

If herbal Tendu leaves, seeds, and millets can be included in the mid-day meal.

— Devisingh Solanki · 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

Include forest-based food items such as Mahua laddoo, Chaar laddoo, Fuljhi, etc., in the Public Distribution System (PDS) and mid-day meals.

— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha

It would be good if the government provides forest foods like honey, Chaar, and Kendu as food in the midday meal.

— Priti majhi

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

It would be good if all the nutritious foods found in the forest such as Lepherasā, Kachar sāg, Gukurijīv sāg, Kaḍī, Heḍuā, Chhati, Ruguḍā are added to the Mid-Day Meal PDS.

— RINA BEHERA · Hemagiri, Sundargarh, Odisha

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

It would be good if forest products like Mahua, Chaar, and Kendu were included in the preparation of our children's Mid-Day Meal.

— Priti majhi

It would be good if forest products like Mahula, Char, and Kendu were provided in mid-day meals through PDS.

— Priti majhi

If forest-based foods like Mahua, Chironji, and Kendu were prepared and given to our school children in their Mid-Day Meal, it would be beneficial.

— Priti majhi

It would be good if the government provides forest foods like Mahua, Chhar, and Kendu as food in the MDM (Mid-Day Meal scheme).

— Priti majhi

It would be appropriate if forest products like Mahua ladoo are prepared and served as part of the Mid-Day Meal in schools.

— Priti majhi

Fruits found in the forest such as Jamun, Custard Apple, Mahua, Chawar, etc., should be added to the Midday Meal.

— Gopal

It would be good if forest products like Mahul, Char, and Kendu are provided through the PDS system for mid-day meals.

— Priti majhi

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

If the government provides forest food like honey and some other forest produce as part of the midday meal, it would be good.

— Priti majhi

If food made from mahua found in our forests and food from charla are included in the school's midday meal for children.

— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha

Including food items like mahua ladoo made from mahua found in our forests in the school's midday meal can provide nutritious food to children.

— Anjana Khadia · Subdega, Sundargarh, Odisha

Kodo, kutki, maize porridge, along with horse gram, moong, and rahat dal, should be given in mid-day meals and also included in the PDS.

— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh

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

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

It would be beneficial if forest fruits, roots, Char, Dumer, and Kuddu fruits are given to school children as part of the midday meals provided in schools. Whatever term applies.

— Parikshit Majhi · Balangir, 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

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 can give fruits found in the forest like :- Tendu, Char, Aonla in our lunch.

— Upendra Kumar Mahananda

Request to the government: It would be good if forest products like Mahua, Char, Kendu, and Kaku were made into ladoos and provided in the BDS mid-day meal.

— Priti majhi

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

In the mid-day meal, children at mothers' and Anganwadi centers should be given various kinds of stir-fried greens, papaya curry, fruits, etc.

— Ulapi Sahu · Patnāgarh, Balangir, 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

Local forest Kendu, Char, Jamu Kali, 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, you do not include packaged food and food from the market/shop to offer to guests.

— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha

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

Forest fruits like Kendu, Char, and Mahul, found in the forest, are rich in nutrition. It would be beneficial to include them in students' midday meals.

— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha

Millet and horse gram should be included in the midday meal.

— Kachala Choudhary

Including ladoos made from Mahua, a food found in our forests, in the school's mid-day meal will be nutritious for children.

— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha

If forest products, mahua mahua tea ladoo, are made during midday meals and given as MDM in schools.

— Priti majhi