Indian breakfast gets a western touch
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MUMBAI: Blame it on the zip-zap-zoom speed of life in cities, but
families no longer seem to have time to fuss over breakfast. The desi
paratha with dollops of ghee or the humble poha have almost disappeared,
say experts.
"The traditional breakfast option is certainly less visible than before," said Jagmeet Madan, principal of SVT College of Home Science in SNDT University. She felt this is a function of westernisation of urban cities. "Breakfast is becoming a western affair," said Dr Madan, adding that the reasons could range from convenience of ready-to-eat packs in families that are rushing against time.
Experts say that Indian families until three to four generations back didn't actively follow the breakfast regime. "Indians had an early lunch around 10 am and then directly ate dinner after work," said Bandra-based nutritionist Shilpa Joshi. But as westernisation and the concept of nuclear families crept in, the idea of breakfast too started forming. However, for most Indians, the breakfast is more often than not a glass of milk or a cup of tea with two biscuits. "It's very unhealthy habit to have such a breakfast, but a section of Indians do that," said Ritika Samadhar, regional head (dietitics) of Max Healthcare in New Delhi.
Samadhar, however, believes there is another section of India that has turned very health-conscious. "This section knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and if they cannot have home-made fresh breakfast then they would take healthy option like oats," she added.
Incidentally, bread is perhaps the most common breakfast option in India. "If you ask 100 Indians what they ate for breakfast, 80% will answer bread. It is either bread jam or omelette-bread," said Joshi.
But nutritionists say that bread is far from a healthy option. Said Dr Madan, "Working parents have no time and are known to opt for bread-based options, but parents have to realise that breakfast being the most important meal of the day, needs people to think it out." Parents should make fillings ready the evening before and give their children stuffed paratha as breakfast, she said.
Efforts should be made to pack a nutrient-rich breakfast. "Instead of giving milk, parents could give a milkshake that combines fruits and milk. A nutritious filling could be wrapped in roti and given as breakfast," she added.
Some nutritionists say that ready-to-eat breakfast items are fortified with minerals and vitamins and hence make a good option. "But these options should only be used to add variety to the breakfast items," said a nutritionist with a public hospital in Mumbai.
"The traditional breakfast option is certainly less visible than before," said Jagmeet Madan, principal of SVT College of Home Science in SNDT University. She felt this is a function of westernisation of urban cities. "Breakfast is becoming a western affair," said Dr Madan, adding that the reasons could range from convenience of ready-to-eat packs in families that are rushing against time.
Experts say that Indian families until three to four generations back didn't actively follow the breakfast regime. "Indians had an early lunch around 10 am and then directly ate dinner after work," said Bandra-based nutritionist Shilpa Joshi. But as westernisation and the concept of nuclear families crept in, the idea of breakfast too started forming. However, for most Indians, the breakfast is more often than not a glass of milk or a cup of tea with two biscuits. "It's very unhealthy habit to have such a breakfast, but a section of Indians do that," said Ritika Samadhar, regional head (dietitics) of Max Healthcare in New Delhi.
Samadhar, however, believes there is another section of India that has turned very health-conscious. "This section knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and if they cannot have home-made fresh breakfast then they would take healthy option like oats," she added.
Incidentally, bread is perhaps the most common breakfast option in India. "If you ask 100 Indians what they ate for breakfast, 80% will answer bread. It is either bread jam or omelette-bread," said Joshi.
But nutritionists say that bread is far from a healthy option. Said Dr Madan, "Working parents have no time and are known to opt for bread-based options, but parents have to realise that breakfast being the most important meal of the day, needs people to think it out." Parents should make fillings ready the evening before and give their children stuffed paratha as breakfast, she said.
Efforts should be made to pack a nutrient-rich breakfast. "Instead of giving milk, parents could give a milkshake that combines fruits and milk. A nutritious filling could be wrapped in roti and given as breakfast," she added.
Some nutritionists say that ready-to-eat breakfast items are fortified with minerals and vitamins and hence make a good option. "But these options should only be used to add variety to the breakfast items," said a nutritionist with a public hospital in Mumbai.
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