Today am gonna talk about Indian traditional breakfast POHA which is power packed nutritious meal. Well in many homes now it got replace with instead noodles or cereal with milk and list goes on. Why it got vanished from our plates? Because we started adapting what we see in telly adds. Yesterday only on one Facebook group I saw a post where one mom was asking healthy Tiffany’s option for her kid and in the comments I saw option like give bread jam , fruit , bread rolls , bread pizza or noodles. But there was not single comment on poha , upna, dhokla,idli. It’s high time to educate our self and kids about nutrition.
Let’s see which ingredients required to make POHA – flattened rice, veggies like onion (tomato optional) peas ,curry leaves, coriender leaves ,chilli, peanuts , coconut , jeera (cumin seeds), mustard seeds , salt according to test.
Health benefits of POHA –
- Flattened rice is made by rice by manufacturing it and it gives vitamin B1 and fiber. Vit B1 which aids in stabilizing blood sugar. Being rich in fiber promotes a slow and steady release of sugar into bloodstream, which helps in regulate the blood sugar levels in the system. Eating poha in right amount helps in diabetic patients.
- since poha is gluten free it can be consumed by those who are allergic to wheat product.
- Rich in iron . POHA gives you iron for good absorption of iron squeeze lemon on poha while eating.(vitamin C helps in iron absorption).
- Poha gives you carbohydrates which provides you energy full day.
- Poha is easily digestible it will not give you bloating keeps you light in stomach. However it will not let you feel hungry.
- Peanuts and grated coconut add in the poha preparation. Peanuts and coconut are good source of vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, good day like MCT from coconut and PUFA and MUFA from peanuts this are good fat for body.
- Low in calories . For weight watchers and calories counter that’s the main point . 1 bowl of POHA hardly give you 200 to 250 calories.
Artical by – Dt. Snesha AP.
Clinical dietitian and Nutritionist.
Balanced Health and Nutrition Centre 