"Ghar ka khana" or homemade meals are really special. Even more so when shared with loved ones. It is delicious, comforting and wholesome. The best part of Indian cuisine is the sheer variety we can find within our traditional and regional dishes. From savoury sabzis, flavourful curries, and breads made from different flours, to sides like achar, papad and chutneys, everything is packed with flavour. The options are endless and one can savour so many different homemade dishes without getting bored. And no matter how much one states that they are tired of the same ghar ka khana, they eventually come back to craving for it after eating restaurant food or even after traveling for a few days.
Of late, homemade food, eating local and eating seasonal have come under the lens and are being advocated by many leading nutritionists. One of them is nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar and she advocates the importance of eating home cooked meals. Recently, she took to her Instagram handle and posted an image of a simple Indian thali.
Also Read: Gujarati Thali, Naga Thali And More: Make These 7 Traditional Thalis Easily At Home
On the plate, we could spot a portion of aloo palak, mixed usal, tadke wali dahi, Makai roti, and papad. Along with the picture, she wrote, "Early to bed, early to rise, early to dine, makes one sexy, beautiful and kind. In the plate - Aloo Palak (last of the season), mixed usal, tadka waala dahi, papad and makai roti (fresh from a clients farm.)" with hashtags #gharkakhana #local #seasonal #traditional.
Many Instagram users commented on the post. One said "Mam u make us connect to traditions very simply and love to rejoice it again."
Another user commented, "I wish I could invite myself over for this humble nutritious and wholesome meal! So important to have those legumes and greens. A well-balanced simple meal."
While other user commented "Is it ok to eat dahi at night?"
Why Is Eating Home Cooked Food Better Than Takeout Food?
Eating a home cooked meal is far better than consuming takeout food because you can control the nutritional value. The takeout food is mostly cooked in a lot of butter, oil, cream and salt, the excess of which are not healthy. On the other hand, when you cook food at home you can easily control the amount of any ingredient as per your choice. So simply cooking a fresh, home cooked meal will keep you fit and healthy in the long run.
Also Read: 13 Grand Indian Thalis You Need to Try At Least Once In Your Life
Is Indian Thali Nutritious?
Prepare healthy thali with some simple dishes at home. Photo Credit: istock
Eating a balanced diet is important, and the Indian thali includes almost all the nutrients that are required by our body. An Indian thali is a platter that serves a variety of dishes from a specific region. A basic Indian thali consists of foods rich in proteins, carbohydrates, fibre, minerals and vitamins. Besides these it also has dairy products like curd, buttermilk and ghee, which are great for digestion and gut health.
Why Should We Eat Local And Seasonal Foods?
Eat local and seasonal fruits and vegetables. Photo Credit: istock
It is healthier to eat food that is grown in a particular region or during a specific season because these are fresh and have several immunity boosting properties. Some foods are still available in off season as they are kept in cold storage, which decreases their nutritional value. So, eating them will not be a healthy choice. Besides this, eating locally produced fruits and vegetables also economically benefits the farmers and vendors.
Here Are Some Delicious Recipes You Can Try
1. North Indian Thali
A basic North Indian Thali consist of dal, sabzi, rice, chapatti, raita and salad. This can be easily prepared at home in less time. For full recipe, click here.
2. Punjabi Thali
From the north, Punjabi thali is a platter full of savoury dishes made in rich spices. The thali consists of butter chicken, paneer butter masala, dal makhani, tandoori roti, laccha paratha, etc.
3. South Indian Banana Leaf Thali
Banana leaf thali is a traditional thali served in the southern region of India. It consists of rice, fish, sambar, rasam, etc. For full recipe, click here.
4. Vrat Ki Thali
People who keep fasts prepare a special thali that consists of falahari foods, aloo, sabudana, kuttu ki roti, fruits, etc. For full recipe, click here.
5. Protein Rich Thali
A protein rich thali includes food dishes that are a good source of protein like, chicken, paneer, soya etc. For full recipe, click here.
Eating local, seasonal and freshly cooked home food is by far a healthier life choice and we hope you'll be inspired to make that choice at least a few times a week. Leave us a comment below to share your thoughts on homemade food.