Millet Consumption Survey in Our Community
Family Head Breakfast Lunch Dinner Millets Used Reasons for Decrease
Ahmed Fatima Porridge (Ragi) Roti (Jowar) Curries (Bajra) Daily None
Khan Zaheer Toast (Wheat) Curry (Rice) Dal (Rice) Occasionally Kids dislike taste, lack of variety
Sharma Priya Upma (Foxtail) Salad (Barnyard) Khichdi (Sorghum) Weekly Price, less filling, long cooking time
Kumar Ravi Oats (Wheat) Leftovers (Rice) Soup (No) Never Not familiar, inconvenient to prepare
Das Meena Dosa (Finger) Pulses (Rice) Roti (No) Monthly Difficult to find, perception as "poor man's food"
Analysis: While some families incorporate millets regularly, others rarely do. Reasons for decreased consumption include:
Taste preference: Children often find millets bland compared to refined grains.
Variety: Millet dishes can be limited, leading to monotony.
Convenience: Millets might require longer soaking/cooking, deterring busy families.
Price: Certain millets can be expensive compared to rice or wheat.
Perception: Millets are sometimes associated with poverty or lack of culinary sophistication.
Overall: Encouraging millet consumption requires addressing these concerns. Introducing diverse millet recipes, highlighting their health benefits, and making them readily available can help. Community initiatives promoting millet farming and local processing could also play a crucial role.