Majority of people end up turning their nose when
Pongal/Khichdi is suggested to add in one of their meal for the day! But Pongal
being an Indian staple, it's also one of the best combinations in an Indian
diet with variations like bajra khichdi, jawar khichdi and oats khichdi holding
ample of nutritional values aiding your overall health in some or the other
way. Further, you can modify the combination as per your taste preferences.
Nonetheless, khichdi, specifically urad dal khichdi is a traditional food
prepared on the day of Makar Sankranti.
Beholding traditional significance
Makar Sankranti also known as "Pongal "
since it's amongst the important dishes prepared on this day of the year. As
this festival of Sankranti beholds a religious significance, the ingredients of
khichdi too holds the traditional significance because of harvesting factor
making it a special meal while keeping you healthy and fit during the
following days of the season. Few may prefer to prepare a dry version of
khichdi depending upon the preferences. Considering it a super food- khichdi
not just provides nutrition but the ingredients also generate heat in the body
which aids in protecting against infections and diseases.
Why Indian Khichdi is treated as a super food?
Being
an ultimate winter comforting food, khichdi is apt for this harvest festival as
it's prepared using rice and pulses- both important grains including vegetables.
Along with its religious values and significance, khichdi is also known to be
applauded with health benefits especially due to its light digestion
properties. Besides that, khichdi being prepared using veggies can be a great
deal to ensure the significant intake of vitamins (B-Vitamin) and minerals.
Next, Indian khichdi also offers anti-inflammatory properties due to the added
spices such as turmeric, cumin powder, asafetida (hing), while preparing the
dish, spices create an anti-oxidative environment in your body, which is
needed by your body as it's always prone to oxidants and ageing.
It's also further added that khichdi is a complete
source of protein as there are two types of protein i.e.
complete and incomplete. The complete source of protein is consisted of all
nine amino acids, wherein, meat is a complete source of protein. However,
combination of rice and dal as khichdi becomes again a complete source of
protein in your diet. At last, it's also a good way to have complex
carbohydrates.
So, enjoy the day of Makar
Sankranti and bless your health by having khichdi at least once in a while to
have healthy upcoming years.