As we know, breakfast is the most important meal of your day. Before the discovery of cereals, waffles, pancakes, granola, avocado on toast & steel cut oats, our Indian ancestors have been eating porridge as their go-to breakfast for years.
The ingredients used in them were mostly fresh as they would cultivate it themselves which only added to its nutritional value. Porridge is a meal packed with rich nutrients that are extremely vital for our bodies. In earlier days it was made by simply boiling a starchy choice of grain with milk or water. Now, there are so many different varieties and choices of porridge to choose from. They can either be made sweet by adding milk, sugar, fruits, and dry fruits, or they can be made savory by using vegetables, spices.
It can be had for either breakfast, lunch or dinner, or for all three meals too. This is because It is healthy, tasty, comparatively lighter, and inexpensive than other meals. The main ingredients in porridge can be either maize, barley, oatmeal, millet, rice, wheat, quinoa, ragi, jowar, bajra, etc.
Porridge can be served cold or hot based on your needs. I personally love hot porridge during rainy days as it can take you down memory lane with just a bite! Porridge is India’s ‘comfort food’.
Porridge has different names and is also made in a plethora of ways in different cities. Porridge is usually very light and can be had by people of all ages because of its high nutritional value.
Benefits of eating porridge:
1. Its high nutritional value:
Since it is mainly made of grains and veggies, it is packed with all the essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals, calcium, and phosphorus that our body needs to remain healthy. It also promotes bone health.
2. Aids in weight loss:
Porridge might just be the perfect meal for weight loss because it includes all food groups that are naturally grown and are essential for our body in more ways than we can even imagine. Its caloric value is not harmful to weight loss as it can help curb our hunger and keeps us fuller for a longer period of time.
3. Reduces risk of diabetes:
According to a few types of research, grains such as barley can also help reduce the risk of diabetes by lowering the blood sugar levels in your body.
4. Helps in digestion:
Porridge is high in fiber which can help relieve our bodies from certain digestion issues and combat constipation. The high fiber also helps in keeping the blood sugar and cholesterol levels in check.
5. Reduces inflammation:
The ingredients used in making porridge are usually good for reducing inflammation as these grains have certain properties that help kill the bad bacteria in our stomach. This in turn promotes gut health. Bad gut health is one of the key reasons for bloating and inflammation.
Porridges are best when they are made fresh at home with all-natural ingredients. The next best alternative is to have porridge made from another home.
You can order your healthy, hygienic & homemade porridge meals using the Sheplates App and have them delivered right to your doorstep. So, what are you waiting for? Give it a try.