Ragi is a super food and you must consume it daily.

Finger millet which is popularly known as Ragi is, indeed a super food. Would you believe me if I said, I wasn’t aware about the existence of this food until I got married. My Mum-in-law would often serve us a glass full of Ragi Milk, which looked a lot of thinned porridge. It is then, I became aware of the benefits of this super food. Finger Millet or Ragi is also known as Nachni. It is often consumed in a powdered form. It has the highest amount of calcium and potassium. Finger Millet also acts as a great Iron supplement too. I personally feel that with the benefits of Vitamin B, being rich in fiber and being low on cholesterol, Ragi is a food, one must consume every day.

Listed below are some of the wonderful benefits of this super food

It is gluten free. Yes, Ragi is organically gluten free and most often can be substituted for foods that require wheat to be prepared
Great source of calcium – I have mentioned it earlier how Ragi helps improve the calcium level in kids. It also helps strengthen bones in kids. Additionally, it helps to restore bone density in adults too.
Helps lower blood sugar levels – We all know it is high in fiber. However, it also contains phytates, tannins and polyphenols, which are the good plant chemicals that help regulate the digestion process. This in turn helps to lower or moderate your blood sugar levels too.
It is rich in amino acids and antioxidants – This super food and it’s many benefits make it a great food for good hair and skin too.
Great source of protein – Being a plant-based protein, it works really well for vegan and vegetarians.

I was definitely eager to start Ragi as the super food for my little one too. I definitely waited for a year to understand the kind of foods he was allergic too. Luckily, he began enjoying this food which a mild sweetness added to it. There are so many ways you can include Ragi in your diet than using it in its traditional form. It is indeed a super food for kids too. I generally add Ragi to almost everything. I have had marginally low calcium levels all through out. My doctor too confirmed that Ragi is definitely the super food.

Here is how including Ragi in your kids’ diet can benefit them in more ways than one.

Weight Gain – As mothers we are constantly fretting over the weight of our kids. Finger millet turns out to be a good option to help us achieve this goal. It contains vitamins, minerals, proteins and a lot of dietary fibre too. It is highly nutritious and help’s in development and weight gain of children.

Prevents Anemia – This super food is rich in iron too. Consuming it regularly helps to prevent Anemia. Make sure to consume vitamin C for better absorption of iron. It is said that sprouted form of Ragi is a good source of Vitamin C too.

Boosts Immunity – Immunity is another matter of worry for parents. Given that, Ragi has so many health benefits and is filled with nutrients, it boosts immunity too. This food variant helps to fight against harmful bacteria too and helps protect kids for infections as well.

Facilitates lactation – Breast milk is great for babies and there are no two ways about it. Including Ragi in your diet helps facilitate the production of breast milk in lactating mothers. It also helps to supplement the breast milk with all the necessary nutrients required for kids.

Ragi Cookies

Ragi is traditionally one of the best food items to be included in our diet. I include it in the following ways in my child’s diet

Make Pancakes out of Ragi Flour and them to cakes or brownies too.
Ferment the soaked Ragi seeds and add it to Dosa, Idlis and Uttapams.
Make chappatis, chillas or Parathas.
You can make sweet dishes like laddoos or halwas.
Make a porridge out of the Ragi flour or simply add ragi powder to milk and milkshakes.