National Food Or Not: Still Khichdi Will Make You Healthy
Rushina Munshaw Ghildiyal, Food Writer, Historian, Teacher and Owner of A Perfect Bite Consulting
If I had to pick up a National Dish it would be Khichadi. Why? From every perspective - historically oldest dish, nutritionally complete meal, cheap and easy to make. No other cuisine cooks this particular combination of cereal and pulse because no other cuisine uses pulses to this degree. And it cuts across all barriers of income, religion, caste and creed. Poor or rich you will identify with it. And you also have veg and non-veg khichdis. I can't think of any other dish with the same degree of prevalence and variation. It's quintessentially Indian!
Mansi Chaudhary, Certified Nutritionist & Diabetes Educator and Founder of Nutripower Health Solutions
One of the first foods an infant is introduced to while being weaned off mother's milk is khichdi. That itself explains why Khichdi is often called a complete food. The combination of rice and lentils ensures availability of all essential amino acids. Spices like hing & jeera boost digestion and also ensure assimilation of nutrients. As per Ayurveda, khichdi can be had in all seasons and helps in controlling the vata & pitta doshas which are characterized by acidity, bloating and burning sensation in the stomach. No wonder, whenever you are ill, the first thing that a doctor or your grandmother or elders will advise you to eat is khichdi as it is light on the gut and yet gives you energy and satiety. It is easy & quick to make and most affordable for even the masses. And you can also up the nutrition value by adding vegetables of your choice. This is also one food that is enjoyed nation-wide with regional variations.
Tapasya Mundhra, Nutritionist and Health Coach
"Khichdi is a complete meal in itself. It has all the nutrients and amino acids and added ghee reduces its Glycemic Index as well. To add to the goodness, it's light on the stomach and easily digestible."
