Lunch is the most important meal of the day. Being the main meal of the day, lunch should be healthy to provide the body with the maximum amount of nutrition. As the body tends to function most efficiently during the day and continues to spend energy until evening, it is best to ensure lunch is nutritious and tasty. A lunch packed with good nutrition will provide you with sufficient energy to refuel the body to perform various tasks for the rest of the day. Research says that those having a wholesome nutritious meal tend to have better brain performance than those who eat a quick lunch.
Lunch should not be skipped as it can result in many health problems like inadequate calorie intake, untimely food cravings, weight gain and slowing down of body`s metabolism. A healthy lunch is important for the maintenance of body health. It helps to rehydrate and replenish the body with sufficient nutrients required to function smoothly.
Healthy Millets for Lunch
Millets are highly nutritious, gluten free, easy to digest small grained cereals belonging to grass family. rich in fibre and protein. Millets are small grained, a good source of niacin, manganese, copper, and magnesium much healthier than rice and wheat. They are also rich in dietary fibre, protein, iron, calcium and B vitamins. These properties of millets have made many health-conscious get attracted towards regular consumption of millet.
Eating healthy food like millets for lunch helps boost brain power, increase productivity at work, improve concentration and mental alertness, making you focused and effective at work.
The different types of millets are: Finger Millet (Ragi), Pearl Millet (Kambu), Barnyard Millet (Kuthiraivali), little millet, (Samai), Kodo Millet (Varagu), Proso Millet (Panivaragu), Sorghum (Cholam), Foxtail millet (Thinai).
How to make Healthy Lemon Varagu Vermicelli
Ingredients
- Medium sized onion – 1 finely chopped
- Varagu Semiya – 4 cups
- Lemon juice – 1 tbsp
- Salt to taste
To Temper
- Urad dhal – 1 tsp
- Channa dhal – 1 tsp
- Green chillies – 2-3 slit at the end
- Peanuts (or) cashew nuts – 1 tbsp
- Mustard seeds- 1 tbsp
- curry leaves – few
Steps to Prepare Lemon Varagu Vermicelli
- Heat 6 cups water and allow it to boil for a min. Add little salt to it and remove from heat. Then, add Varagu semiya and close the lid. Do not disturb it for 2 mins.
- Now, drain the water completely and keep semiya aside. Take Idli cooker and spread semiya over the plates. Steam semiya for 5 mins. Set aside.
- In another pan, heat 2 tsp oil, add mustard seeds, Urad dhal, channa dhal, peanuts and curry leaves, fry till crisp.
- Add chopped onions and green chillies. Cook for a min. Add cooked vermicelli and salt to taste. Toss it well. Cook for 2 mins on low-medium flame. Sprinkle lemon juice and toss again. Remove from the heat and serve hot with chutney or pickle.