(GIST OF YOJANA) Millets in the Right context

GIST OF YOJANA : Millets in the Right context

FEBRUARY-2026

Millets in the Right context

Context:

Millets have gone through something like that they are rich in micronutrients, they are dense in fibre, they can help regulate blood sugars, blood pressure and even help with weight loss. And with that information, millets are the new, and breaks my heart to say this, maida. Everything that was once made with maida - biscuits, cakes, breads, noodles, etc., is now being made with millets so that more profit can be made by positioning it as healthy.

Right Way Eating Millets

Practical Guide to Eating Millets the Right Way Eating seasonal not only ensures easy availability of the nutrients at just the time they are needed, but it also ties in beautifully with farming practices and crop cycles.
Eat millets with the right food combinations Combining millets with pulses, spices, fats, etc., ensures that limiting amino acids are compensated for, protein quality/ digestibility is improved and the effect of anti-nutrients is reduced.
Millets which are particularly hard to digest, like bajra, even come with rules - always have with a dollop of makhan or a teaspoon extra of ghee and never without jaggery. One can’t but marvel at dadis and nanis ke gharelu nuskhe and saral, sasta and sundar methods of turning every meal into a joy, long after it’s been consumed.

Eat millets in all forms

The diversity in the ways we can consume millets is staggering. The germination and fermentation for satva, kheer or porridge, the soaking and heating for khichdis, bhakris and Ictddoos, also ensured that there is no taste fatigue or boredom while eating nutritious, healthy food.

Don’t replace all grains with millets

Lastly, know that millets are not a replacement for rice and wheat. At least not a complete replacement. Again, it comes to sustainability and common sense. So, continue with the rice and/or wheat for normal consumption but don’t forget the weekly bhakri, and the seasonal laddoos and porridge.

The magic is in the process

Nostalgia, like memory, is a funny thing. It can hyper focus on one aspect and miss out on the big picture. We can forget how this one detail fitted into the big scheme of things. A bit like that has happened to not just millets but all things "ancient", be it the food - seeds, spices, etc., or practices like fasting, kr/yas, etc.
And when we forget how it fits in the larger scheme of things, we reduce it to what it is not, a miracle molecule or worse, a miracle cure.

Way ahead:

The resurgence of ancient ingredients like millets, highlighting their nutritional benefits and the importance of traditional culinary methods in maximizing health and happiness. It stresses the connection between culture, climate, and cuisine in utilizing these ingredients effectively.