Rujuta Diwekar :
Rujuta Diwekar, a Mumbai based celebrity nutritionist, was at Sadhu Vaswani Mission's Little Lamps preschool to conduct a family wellness workshop. She is also the author of the renowned book “Don’t lose your mind, lose your weight” & the winner of the prestigious Nutrition award from the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG).
Rujuta prescribes & clearly proclaims that the secret of good health and good life is our rich nutritional heritage. Taking us through the regional produce and body types, she talks about five staple foods which she calls the “Panch Amrut” as the prescribed recipe for a healthier lifestyle.
The Panch Amrut that Ms. Diwekar advocates are :
- Banana : A Banana is a powerhouse of nutrition. It has natural pro biotic bacteria that aids digestion and alleviates constipation. Bananas help achieve your ideal weight and also takes good care of your bone health. It is rich in calcium and tryptophan which is converted to serotonin. Children can have rolled chapati or rotis with banana, ghee and a little bit jaggery, added with elaichi to enhance their taste buds.
- Ghee (Clarified butter) : Homemade ghee is an essential ingredient in every Indian kitchen and is an important tonic to reduce post pregnancy weight. Ghee has essential amino acids that help mobilise the fat and allow the fat cells to shrink. It is proved to be remedial for people with spine health issues & for people suffering from joint pain. Ghee also improves your memory and vision power. Two spoons of ghee everyday can help you fight seasonal diseases because of its antiviral properties.
- Rice : Carbs are considered the latest pseudo villains of the booming weight loss industry, but rice a good carb, is a staple in Asia. Rice contains essential amino acids which accelerates fat burning, Rujuta recommends a regular consumption of traditionally hand pounded or single polished rice which is whitish, not brown. She explains that eating food according to your geographical location is more suitable for your body type because of the climatic conditions. Replacing rice with wheat or brown rice is not a sustainable solution.
- Ragi : Nachini in Marathi and Finger Millet in English was considered the poor man’s staple. Ragi is a rich source of Calcium, having high fibre content and low glycaemic index, it metabolises slowly and releases lower blood sugar, making one feel full for longer periods of time. Ragi rotis with peanut chutney is a complete meal for your children having essential nutrients and vitamins.
- Sugarcane : Sugarcane is so rooted to our Indian culture that the first harvest of the year is celebrated with Sugarcane. It completely detoxes & cleanses your system. Chewing the canes & fibers not only whitens and brightens your teeth but also strengthens your gums. While the juice is a perfect remedy for heat exhaustion, acidity and bloating, it is an excellent tonic for the liver and kidney to expel all toxins.
At Sadhu Vaswani Mission’s Little Lamps we not only make everyday special for the children, but address every mother's concerns for her child. During the first 6 years, the brain is twice as active as that of an adult, 60% nutrition is used by the brain during the first year of life. This decreases to 30% by the age of 3 and as children are most receptive to information at a young age, early learning exposure plays a significant role in fostering good eating habits. The right approach to learning is critical to ensure that the child develops a love for new concepts. The pre-primary years are the important foundation building years in a child's life. At Little Lamps we believe in our rich cultural heritage to imbibe qualities in a child to ensure that the child develops a good character without feeling stressed.
Application forms for the academic year starting in January 2016 are available at www.svmlittlelamps.com .
