Traditional Forest Nutrition

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

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

— Parsuram Sa · Sundargarh, 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

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

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

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

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

— Kachala Choudhary

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

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

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

In ancient times, in previous eras, people collected nutritious foods like ragi, millet, etc., from the forest, ate them to stay healthy and strong, and lived for a long time. If farmers or tribal community people cultivate those essential crops of those ancient times again, it will guide them towards the development of their life's values in the future.

— Dillip pujari · Phiringia, Kandhamal, Odisha

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

Nutritious local tubers like Pitikanda, Charendakanda, and Naangalakanda, found in the forest, can be included in dishes.

— Padmalochan Majhi · Ratachua, Rayagada, Odisha

Nutritious diet includes forest vegetables like Mocha Kolyar greens.

— Kachala Choudhary

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

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

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

We get various types of fruits and roots from the forest.

— Laba Kumar sabar · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, Odisha

We used to gather forest products like mahua, cook them, make cakes, and eat them in the forest. Even now, we will learn from our ancestors.

— Gitanjali Bhoi · Karamdihi, Sundargarh, Odisha

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

We get various greens and various fruits from the forest.

— Laba Kumar sabar · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, Odisha

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

— Kekti Tekam

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

— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

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

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

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

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

The edible items found in the forest are Kendu, Chaar, and Mahua, which

— Vijay Kumar bhardwaj · Kasdol, Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh

Grains and other food items are included from the forest.

— Sunita Kumari

The Mahua from our forest is very rich in vitamins and is given to children as food for their nourishment.

— Gitanjali Bhoi · Sundargarh, 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

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

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

— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha

We are the people of earlier times who used to eat mahua from the forest, eat chakad shak, eat millet bread, eat corn bread. Now people eat good food, and because they eat good food, they catch so many diseases.

— Sunita Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

Grains, food, and foodstuffs are included from the forest.

— Sunita Kumari

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

Locally, forest-derived foods such as bamboo shoots and mushrooms are rich in protein. Name: Bhagat Dalapati, Village: Kudumulugumma.

— jitendra khila · kudumulugumma, Malkangiri, Odisha