A dimension within Nourishing Futures
Connecting forest foods and PDS with child nutrition and school health through midday meal programs.
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Positive
Overall Community Sentiment
I am Manjula Mainat. Including forest food in the midday meal for the children of Jalukua Complex promotes their physical and mental development. Forest food includes custard apple, Indian gooseberry, lamb's quarters, etc.
— narayanlalbaranda5@gmail.com · Jhapa, Dungarpur, Rajasthan
My name is Hemant Sa, from village Nilaji. Nutritious local forest foods should be included in PDS and also in mid-day meals. Those are Manjia, Guruji, Pasun.
— RUDRA PRASAD BAG · Jagānpadar, Nuapada, Odisha
Hemant Sha village Nilaji: Forest-based millets and Gurji traditional food should be included in PDS and mid-day meals. This will help in the mental and physical development of children.
— RUDRA PRASAD BAG · Jagānpadar, Nuapada, Odisha
My name is Sunita Dalemajhi, from Batamaha, Kotagarh, Kandhamal. The nutritious food found in the forest, Mahua Bhaji, tastes great when eaten with Tila (sesame). It would be good if it is added to children's PDS.
— Manu Majhi · Tumudibandh, Kandhamal, Odisha
To include forest-based foods like Mahua ladoo, Char ladoo, Phuljhi, etc., in PDS and midday meals.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
Include forest-based food items such as Mahua laddoo, Chaar laddoo, Fuljhi, etc., in the Public Distribution System (PDS) and mid-day meals.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
Local forest produce like Kendu, Char, Jamun berries, Mahula contain nutrients. To provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children, wild leafy greens and traditional foods from the forest should be included in school mid-day meals. During festivals, we do not include packaged food and items from markets/shops to offer to guests.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
Including food items like mahua ladoo made from mahua found in our forests in the school's midday meal can provide nutritious food to children.
— Anjana Khadia · Subdega, Sundargarh, Odisha
Including Mahula laddus made from Mahula found in our forests in school's midday meals can provide nutritious food to children.
— Anjana Khadia · Subdega, Sundargarh, Odisha
Fruits obtained from the forest are also important for the physical and mental development of children and for providing nutrition; the government should include them as traditional food items in school mid-day meals.
— Anil Pargi · Maliya Dokar, Banswara, Rajasthan
In my village, there are many wild fruits and vegetables that should be included in school meals, in the midday meal. This is a request to the government.
— Jaya · Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh
Including ladoos made from Mahua, a food found in our forests, in the school's mid-day meal will be nutritious for children.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
Local forest produce such as Kendu, Char, Jamun berries, Sarala leaves, and Mahul contain nutrients. To provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children, traditional foods like millet porridge should be included in school mid-day meals. During festivals, do not include packaged food and food from markets/shops to offer to guests.
— DASHARATH SINGH · Jamunkira, Sambalpur, Odisha
Local forest produce like Kendu, Chaar, Jamukoli, and Mahul are rich in nutrients. Wild leafy greens and traditional foods should be included in school midday meals to provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children. During festivals, we do not provide packaged food and market/shop items to guests.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
If forest foods like Char, Mahua, Kendu, Mango, and Jam are added to PDS and mid-day meals, consumers will get nutritious food.
— RINA BEHERA · Sundargarh, Odisha
Local forest produce such as Kendu, Chaar, Jamu Kali, and Mahul contain nutrients. To provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children, wild leafy greens and traditional foods should be included in school mid-day meals. During festivals, we do not include packaged food and items from markets/shops to offer to guests.
— DASHARATH SINGH · Sambalpur, Odisha
Fruits found in the forest such as Jamun, Custard Apple, Mahua, Chawar, etc., should be added to the Midday Meal.
— Gopal
Local forest Kendu, Char, Jamu Kali, Mahul contain nutrients. To provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children, wild leafy greens and traditional foods should be included in school mid-day meals. During festivals, you do not include packaged food and food from the market/shop to offer to guests.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
Keshav Lal Nanoma stated that wild fruits like Timru and Custard Apple should be given in the mid-day meal for the nutritious diet of children.
— narayanlalbaranda5@gmail.com · Jhapa, Dungarpur, Rajasthan
Forest fruits like Kendu, Char, and Mahul, found in the forest, are rich in nutrition. It would be beneficial to include them in students' midday meals.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
Amla pickle should be included in mid-day meals among local forest food items, and traditional produce like Kodo, Kutki, maize, and pulses like Kurthi, Moong, Chana, and Rahar should be included in PDS.
— Rupesh Maravi
Forest fruits like Kendu, Char, and Mahul, found in the forest, contain abundant nutritious food. It would be good to include them in the mid-day meals of students.
— DASHARATH SINGH · Jamunkira, Sambalpur, Odisha
Forest produce fruits found in the forest like Kendu, Char, and Mahula contain abundant nutritious food. It would be good to include them in students' mid-day meals.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
Tungemasha, potatoes, and Panikonda are all found in the forest. If Panikonda is included in PDS and mid-day meals, then children will remain healthy by getting nutritious food.
— Basanti · Dashapalla, Nayagarh, Odisha
My name is Lidja Majhi. Village Mandipanka, Panchayat Bamunia, Block Daribadi, District Kandhamal. Today, I feel that forest products contain more nutritious food, which is currently a forest...
— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha
If forest-based foods like Mahua, Chironji, and Kendu were prepared and given to our school children in their Mid-Day Meal, it would be beneficial.
— Priti majhi
Local forest products like Kendu, Char, Jamu Kali, and Mahul are rich in nutrients. To provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children, wild leafy greens and traditional foods should be included in school mid-day meals. During festivals, you do not include packaged food and items from the market/shop to offer to guests.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
Mahua flowers and other foods obtained from the forest are very nutritious. Therefore, it is appropriate to include these foods in PDS or mid-day meals.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
Local forest products like Kendu, Char, Jamu Kali, Sarala Sag, and Mahul are rich in nutrients. To provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children, traditional foods like millet should be included in school mid-day meals. During festivals, are you not including packaged food and food from the market/shops to serve guests?
— DASHARATH SINGH · Sambalpur, Odisha
I think Nija Pradhan, Raike, Kandamula, and generally for lunch for children, we are requesting the government to include Mandia, Kandamula, forest fruits, Kendu, Sadhe Ganga, Amla, and various other types of roots which are Loeraka and Napanga, and when given to children, children get protein, because these are not refined foods, therefore we are requesting the government to include them in the mid-day meal.
— RITARANI PRADHAN · Raikia, Kandhamal, Odisha
Nutritious forest produce, such as millet, will be provided to children as part of their midday meals through the Public Distribution System.
— Padmini Bhoi
The most nutritious locally edible forest food items should be included in PDF mid-day meals, and the government wants to promote their nutritional value for children.
— Laxmanlal
Local forest produce such as Kendu, Char, Jamun berries, and Mahul are rich in nutrients. Wild edible greens and traditional foods should be included in school mid-day meals to provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children. During festivals, you don't include packaged foods and market/shop items to offer to guests.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
At Anganwadi Center Nareli Baranda Fala, the Anganwadi worker stated that by providing forest produce fruits like custard apple, amla, and karonda in the nutritional food at our Anganwadi center, it will promote the physical development of children. - Ganga Devi Baranda
— narayanlalbaranda5@gmail.com · Jhapa, Dungarpur, Rajasthan
Local forest products like Kendu, Char, Jamu Kali, and Mahua contain nutrients. To provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children, wild leafy vegetables and traditional foods should be included in school mid-day meals. During festivals, you do not include packaged food and items from the market/shops to offer to guests.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
If we talk about the most nutritious food, if the government provides our forest products like Mahul, Char, and Kendu as food in MDM (Mid-Day Meal), then children will eat it and become intelligent.
— Priti majhi
In addition to the lentil dish (dialunda) served to the children of our Anganwadi during midday meals, they should also be provided with our forest-based products, such as seasonal leafy greens.
— Parsuram Sa · Sundargarh, Odisha
Local forest Kendu, Char, Jamu Kali, Mahul are rich in nutrients. Wild leafy vegetables and traditional foods should be included in school mid-day meals to provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children. During festivals, you are not including packaged foods and items from markets/shops to offer to guests.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
Speaking of the most nutritious food, if the government provides our forest products like Mahul, Char, Kendu, etc., as food in MDM (Mid-Day Meal), children will eat them and become intelligent/wise.
— Priti majhi
Forest-produced fruits like Kendu, Char, and Mahula, found in the forest, contain a large amount of nutritious food. It would be excellent to include these in students' midday meals.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
AI-synthesised pieces woven from many community voices on this theme. They may contain errors or interpretation — they're a reflection of the stories, not a record of fact.

By incorporating local, traditional grains like ragi and millet into school lunch programs, communities can significantly improve children's health and well-being.

We ensure our children's well-being and cultural continuity by teaching them about the forest's bounty and the richness of our ancestral language and traditions.

By cherishing and utilizing the traditional foods and herbs found in our forests and lands, we can sustain ourselves and combat malnutrition while preserving our natural heritage.

Our community advocates for the integration of traditional, locally sourced foods into public programs to nourish children and preserve cultural heritage for future generations.
The voices in this theme were gathered by these organisations through their community reports.