You yourself being a parent would be well aware of the issue of getting your children to consume healthy and nutritious food that is tasty to eat. With child obesity and junk food consumption at record levels among children today, choosing healthy breakfast cereals such as kodo millet rice is the right and smart choice. Varagu rice or varagu arisi or kodo millet rice is a super-ancient superfood cereal and an excellent alternative to normal rice or wheat.
But let us now raise the curtain of the health benefits of kodo millet rice and some tasty, children-favourite recipes that your kids will love!
What is Kodo Millet Rice?
Kodo millet rice is one of the staples of South Indians and tribals. Kodo millet is gluten-free with extremely high dietary fiber and extremely high nutritional content of the primary nutrients as below:
• Iron
• Calcium
• Protein
• Antioxidants
• B-complex vitamins
As it is low in glycemic index but high in fiber, it is apt that it should be added to the children’s food so that they can get the benefit of energy value and digestible value without creating any effect on the blood sugar level.
Why Use Kodo Millet Rice for Children
It should be provided to the children so that the body and mind can develop. The reasons for which the kodo millet rice can be prepared as a good meal to be provided to the child during lunch time are:
• Palatable and easily digested: Gluten-free, high fiber content, baby-friendly for stomach.
• Energy Boosterer: Slow release of energy in the form of complex carbohydrates.
• Immunity Builder: Mineral and antioxidant-rich for developing immunity.
• Brain Development: Iron and B-vitamin-rich for brain development.
• Flexible and Tasty: Easy to prepare a few varieties of varagu arisi without losing taste.
6 Kid-Friendly Kodo Millet Rice Recipes
1. Kodo Millet Vegetable Khichdi
One-pot comfort food perfect for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients:
• 1 cup of kodo millet rice
• ½ cup of moong dal
• Mixed vegetables (carrot, potato, peas, beans)
• Turmeric, salt, cumin, ghee
Process
1. Dal and Millets Sambar
Rinse dal and millets. Boil along with chopped vegetables and spices under pressure. Mix spoon of ghee while serving. Easy to digest, light, and tasty.
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2. Varagu Rice Idlis
Kid-friendly idlis—and with so much convenience, kids can be made to have a healthier one by using varagu arisi.
Ingredients:
• 2 cups varagu rice
• 1 cup cornur dal
• Salt
Procedure
Soak, grind, and ferment batter as for normal idli. Steam and serve with sambar or chutney. Idlis are soft, light, and healthy.
3. Kodo Millet Rice Pongal
Sweet pongal prepared using kodo millet rice is an excellent school breakfast side dish for children
Ingredients
• 1 cup kodo millet
• ½ cup moong dal
• Jaggery, ghee, cardamom, cashews, raisins
Procedure
Dal and millet are prepared. Top cooked millet with melted jaggery. With fried nuts in ghee and cardamom. Sweet and aromatic in taste.
4. Millet Rice Pulao
Spicy-sweet crunchy vegetable pulao is a nutritious school lunch.
Ingredients:
• 1 cup kodo millet rice
• 1 mixed vegetable
• Bay leaf, cinnamon, cumin, ginger-garlic paste, salt
Procedure:
Cook millet and sauté along with vegetable and spices. Eye candy and a fiber-rich, vitamin-rich meal.
5. Varagu Rice Dosa
These soft crunchy good varagu rice dosas are perfect evening snack!
Ingredients:
• 2 cups varagu rice
• 1 cup urad dal
• Salt
Procedure
Make dosa batter as usual. Spread thinly on hot tava and fill. Serve with chutney or ketchup. Crunch is kids favorite!
6. Kodo Millet Rice Cutlets
Crisp cutlet bite shallow-fried is a healthy finger food alternative for processed food.
Ingredients:
• 1 cup cooked kodo millet
• Boiled potato
• Chopped vegetables (carrot, onion, capsicum)
• Spices, breadcrumbs
Procedure:
Combine all the ingredients, prepare cutlets, bread and shallow-fry golden brown. Serve with tomato sauce or mint chutney.
Tips to Engage Children with Millet Food
• Fun Shape: Prepare dosa, idli, or cutlets in a fun shape with cookie cutters.
• Mild Flavor: There is never going to be any time when kids become allergic at birth; keep the flavor mild and yummy.
• Colorful: Combine the colorful vegetables in a manner that will be appealing to them.
• Involve Them: Engage your children in mixing or feeding them.
• Start small with kodo millet amounts in easy foods like upma or fried rice.
Conclusion: Make the correct choice. Make the correct choice with Megavita.
It will be the healthiest thing that you can do to his/her body to give space to varagu rice or varagu arisi or kodo millet rice in your child’s diet. So many tasty, kid-friendly dishes can be made out of it that you need not go on with packaged cereals and lose this millet opportunity.
We know how much health and tradition matter to Megavita. We now present to you the finest quality millets with extreme care to process and pack. Whether your children desire a healthy life or not, you can trust the Megavita.