• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

MadhurieSingh.com

India's First Schools and Product Reviewer

MadhurieSingh.com

Author Photo MADHURIE SINGH

Madhurie Singh, India’s First Schools and Product Reviewer

Writing since 2006, honest reviews of schools, admission process, application dates and interview questions for Nursery to class 12. Read all posts to understand which is the right board/school/preschool/ coaching/product for your child. CBSE, ICSE, IB, CAIE, IGCSE, NIOS, PMShri, BSB or State Boards.
Best school or Top School need not be Right School always. Read More…

  • Home
    • About MadhurieSingh.com
    • About Madhurie Singh
  • Phone Consultation
  • Schools Reviews
    • List of Pune Schools
    • Pune School Reviews
    • Residential Schools
  • Parenting
    • Teaching in fun ways
    • Thinking Aloud
  • Product Reviews
    • Health Product Reviews
    • Recipes
    • Fat-Fit
You are here: Home / Archives for makhana

makhana

Why is Makhana a wonder snack food ?

Written By Madhurie Singh Last Modified Date: March 26, 2017

makhana

Makhana is also known as gorgon nuts, fox nut is actually the seed of a water plant called prickly water lily or gorgon which is not Lotus. It is the only food among all the food for fasting, that is not just high in carbohydrates but also in protein. It can be cooked in salty and sweet dishes for both snack and meals.

I am in love with makhana as its the quickest and easiest snack I can cook for my sons which is healthy too. Watch this video to appreciate how painfully difficult it is to make makhana!

I started eating more Makhanas as my tribute to this community whose living is dependent on Makhanas. 🙂

The farmers in Bihar collect this from the ponds by hands and process the seeds at home bearing great heat of the fire every day!

We are lucky to be able to eat this wonder food in all the parts of India and abroad thanks to many enterprising entrepreneurs.

Makhana is one of the lightest yet nutritious super food that can be served as snacks, sweet or savory dishes. I like to snack on them and so do my sons. They make me buy 10 packets every month.

Why do I allow my children to snack on Makhanas so much? 

Makhanas, when sauteed in desi ghee with salt has been my favorite snack but not very frequent until I researched about its nutritional values.

Food Item Source Type Nutritional Value (100gm)
Carbohydrate Protein Fat Minerals
Makhana/ Foxnut Seed of Gorgon 77g 9.7g 0.1g Vit C, Vit B3, B6, Mn, Iron, Ph, K, Mg, Ca, Omega 3

As a mother what do you look for in a food? Protein, Carbohydrate, Omega 3, healthy Fat, as many Vitamins and Minerals. Right?

Makhana has a very high quantity of Protein. Let me help you with the amount of protein found in common food we eat.

Let’s learn how much protein children need.

  • Calculate your protein intake as 2 – 2.2g/kg body weight.
  • if your child’s weight is body weight is 10 Kg, then he needs  20 gm protein per day.
  • if your child’s weight is body weight is 15 Kg, then he needs  30 gm protein per day.
  • if your child’s weight is body weight is 20 Kg, then he needs  40 gm protein per day.
  • if your child’s weight is body weight is 25 Kg, then he needs  50 gm protein per day.
  • if your child’s weight is body weight is 30 Kg, then he needs  60 gm protein per day.
  • if your child’s weight is body weight is 35 Kg, then he needs  70 gm protein per day.
  • if your child’s weight is body weight is 40 Kg, then he needs  80 gm protein per day.
  • if your child’s weight is body weight is 45 Kg, then he needs  90 gm protein per day.
  • if your child’s weight is body weight is 50 Kg, then he needs  100 gm protein per day.
  • if your child’s weight is body weight is 55 Kg, then he needs  110 gm protein per day.
  • if your child’s weight is body weight is 60 Kg, then he needs  120 gm protein per day.
  • Let me take a body weight of 30 Kg of a child who needs 60 gm protein.
  • Divide the total protein quantity of 60 gm into 6 meals or 4 meals or 3 meals based on how many times you serve food. If 6 meals then you need 60gm/6 meals = 10 g protein per meal. But if its 4 meals, then you need to give 60gm/4 meals = 7.5 g protein per meal. Four meal is the least one should be serving to a child. As an adult, you may stick to whatever you plan.

If a lunch is 1 roti (1 g protein) + 1/2 cup dal (4 g protein) + 1/2 cup curd (10 g protein) + veggies (1 g protein) + rice (2 g protein), then you are getting only 18 g protein! The question is does your child eat all these in one meal? Mine don’t. So I roughly ensure every meal has more than 6 g protein.

Morning Breakfast Milk 6 g

Short Break has Biscuits, Khakhras, Fruits = 10 g protein

Long Break has Stuffed paratha / Bread with Cheese Slice/ Roti with Chicken nuggets = 10 – 20 g

Lunch has 1 cup Rice (2 g protein) + 1 cup dal (15 g protein) + Veggies (1 gm protein) + salad = 18-23g

Milk in the evening 6 g

Dinner has 2 Rotis ( 2 g protein) + Chicken/ Paneer / Eggs/ Fish/ Chole = 15 – 25 g protein

There days when I do not have anything healthy cooked, then I give them Makhanas as snacks either in the snack box or in the evening with milk. Now a days when exams are going on and kids are home by 12 noon, they are constantly snacking. Keeping readymade Makhana packets has really helped me. I buy different flavors of Popmak Makhana and keep it visibly stacked in the kitchen. This has reduced their dependency on unhealthy potato chips a lot.

Why during fasting seeds and roots are consumed?

Makhana is a very versatile item that can be eaten as savory or sweet dish.

We are high Adrenal functioning people and always snacking on high protein but salty items. But my mom makes yummy Makhana kheer by chopping makhanas into tiny bits and cooking in thick milk. It is an extremely tasty nutritional sweet dish. You must try it.

A unique snack that I have been making is Makhana Bhel for my sons. I mix chopped onions, tomatoes, coriander leaves, lemon juice, puffed rice and spicy ready to eat makhanas from Popmak. I have to tell you it not only is filling but absolutely not loaded with too much carbohydrate that gets converted into glucose easily.

Another way to eat Makhana is with daal chawal. My sons like to eat something tangy and crunchy with daal chawal. So Makhana also comes handy.

I am going to challenge you, moms, to come up with new recipes with Makhana especially if you are trying to lose weight. Then we can have a competition of the best recipe. I will probably ask the Makhana company PopMak to sponsor the winner! What say, people? Do you accept the challenge?

This article is sponsored by PopMak.

popmak makhana

Protein Source gm
1 egg 6gm
1 egg white 3gm
100g Chicken 26gm
100g Fish 18gm
100gms Paneer 20gm
100gms Curd 5gm
100ml Milk 5gm
1 cup cooked Dal 7gm
1 cup cooked Sprouts 7gm

Filed Under: Health Product Reviews Tagged With: foxnut, Healthy, lotus, makhana, prickly lilly, snacks1 Comment

Why during fasting seeds and roots are consumed?

Written By Madhurie Singh Last Modified Date: March 26, 2017

why during fasting seeds and roots are consumed

Photo source credit: Google Images

Fasting is abstinence. Abstaining from alcohol, nonveg and certain food increases one’s will power and concentration. Proper fasting helps in cleansing the toxins that build up in the body.

If you have been fasting regularly or occasionally you must be eating a lot of yummy food to break the fast. So I fasted after 20 years for this Maha Shivratri. Since I had so much time from not cooking, I started to Google the various food that can be eaten during fasting and to break the fasts. But before that an incident with my son.

My younger son found the lunch to be boring this day. So I told him that either he ate whatever is cooked or fast. ” I’ll fast mom”, he quickly wanted to escape the lunch. I tried my best to dissuade him but he was adamant. At night around 8 pm, he came crying to me and said, “I am going to die mom. Something strange is happening to me. My body is paining!” I gave him a bowl of five Rasmalais with it’s sweet milk. After 10 minutes, when the sugar had done it’s job and he was calm, I asked him how he was feeling. He nodded his head and said, “Now I am ok.” I looked at him and said, “Beta, this is how hunger feels like. Your body was aching because you had not eaten the whole day. Remember next time when you see someone hungry, what he is going through.”

After a quick search of the various Fasting food ingredients these were my observations:

These ingredients were acceptable during fast or to break the fast

  1. Fruits (Banana, Apple, Mango etc)
  2. Milk and milk products
  3. Dry Fruits
  4. Roots (potato, tapioca, sweet potato)
  5. Vegetables (tomato, cucumber, cauliflower etc)
  6. Seeds
  7. Ghee
  8. Sugar

Why not wheat, jowar, bajra, rice, garlic, ginger? Nonveg I got it should not be eaten.

 

milk

Cow’s Milk we all know is the easiest source of instant energy and protein.  All items made of milk like curds, paneer, sweets are favorites in fasting meals.

Fruits are ready source of carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins and very easy to digest.

Dry Fruits are to be taken in small quantity which slowly but easily digests to give energy which is from the carbohydrate, sugar and protein.

 

Vegetables like cauliflower, cucumber, tomatoes, pumpkin are used quite commonly in fasting meal.


makhanaMakhana is fox nut
 is also a seed of a water plant called prickly water lily or gorgon which is not Lotus. It is the only food among all the food for fasting, that is not just high in carbohydrates but also in protein. It can be cooked in salty and sweet dishes for both snack and meals.

I am in love with makhana as its the quickest and easiest snack I can cook for my sons which is healthy too.

Read: Why is Makhana a wonder snack food?

Sabudana or Sago is made from the starch of Tapioca Roots. 

sabudana

The root or tuber is chopped and fermented into open pits which attract several insects. Water is added into the open pit which gives birth to many white color nali ke keede! The pit has bright street light focussing at night which invite hundreds of insects that attain moksha in this starch paste. All these including insects are churned into a paste which is then sieved through a mesh to get tiny balls of Sabu dana. These are dried in open fields. If you are living near villages of South India where these are made by hand, you know your fasting is seriously not vegetarian or hygienic. Searching on Youtube, you will all videos on How Sabudana is made from SE Asian countries. The lone video from India Sabudana making process is now deleted.

But, if you are buying Sabudana from malls, then probably, you will eat these made from a very different process. Tapioca is powdered and its starch is treated to make tiny balls. But by the time it reaches your kitchen, it has lost the nutrition due to chemical bleaching and washing of the tapioca paste to get that pure white color.

kuttu

Kuttu or Buckwheat is seed and not a grain and very high in Carbohydrate and highest in Protein. It is one of the most economical seed and its atta makes very tasty pooris.

 

singhada

Singhare or water chestnut is a fruit grown underwater that has a fair amount of carbohydrate which is a great way to eat a variety of carbohydrate. It is dried and powdered to make atta. Poories are made out of Singhare ka atta. Singhara can also be chopped into pieces and seasoned with mustard seeds and curry leaves.
potatoAloo or Potato full of carbohydrate is a root that is grown under the earth and we all know it. It has a load of carbohydrate and minerals that are needed to break the fast. It is the most common yet most tasty fast-breaking food. I love when my mom makes the fasting aaloos with roasted peanuts and boiled potatoes garnished with green corianders leaves.

 

sweet potato

Sweet Potato is also excellent as it is a tuber or root and it has carbohydrate and vitamins. It provides a sweeter version of carbohydrates and is used to make Halwa. It is very tasty when smoked in charcoal.

 

samvat riceSamwat Rice is actually a seed not a grain and hence included as Fasting food. Since it is a seed, it has all the properties of seeds mentioned below.

Ramdana

Ramdana or Rajgira is also a seed of Amranth. It’s gluten free, low on glycemic load, enriched with antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals. You can make atta of Ramdana to make pooris or roties. But I love laddoos made of puffed Ramdana and jaggery. Remember, if there any food that has larger than life nutritional values they will be named after Indian Gods/ Goddesses. Ram-dana, now you get its value!

 

homemade gheeGhee is an intrinsic part of fasting food. Ghee is a very small yet big dose of good fat which our ancestors knew about since Vedic days.                                    

 

How Ghee cures depression in children, teens and adults

 

Our ancestors knew what food had the highest amount of Carbohydrate that can be very quickly converted into Glucose that the body requires after fasting for more than 8 hours.

The human body’s key source of energy, through aerobic respiration, providing about 3.75 Kcal of Energy per gram of Glucose.

Why roots? Roots are full of starch. Starch is the easiest food that is digested into glucose. And we all know glucose is the stored into muscle cells as glycogen. When we move our body, this stored glucose uses oxygen and provides energy.

Why Seeds and Ghee? Seeds are a very rich pack of Magnesium to help store energy in muscles, Zinc for immunity, Omega 3 for brain functions, improves insulin regulation, increases good HDL cholesterol, antioxidants, tryptophans that help in sleeping soundly, anti-inflammatory properties of these two super foods.

Seeds that are used as flour to make pooris and rotis are gluten-free at the same time is extremely nutritious. It is enriched with fiber, protein, Vitamin B, magnesium, and phosphorus.

Why milk and milk products? Milk is a complete food in itself as it has carbohydrate, protein, and fat with ample mineral and vitamins. Milk products like curds is also eaten to give loads of protein and carbohydrates.

Why grains and pulses are avoided during fasting? Grains and pulses/ daal, slow down the digestion process, especially wheat. And since fasting is to give rest to the digestive system, why eat anything that will overload the system.

Food Item Source Type Nutritional Value (100gm)
Carbohydrate Protein Fat Minerals
Makhana/ Foxnut Seed of Gorgon 77g 9.7g 0.1g Vit C, Vit B3, B6, Mn, Iron, Ph, K, Mg, Ca, Omega 3 , Omega
Saboodana/ Sago Very starchy Roots of Tapioca  85.5g 0.2g 0.2g Iron, Ph
Kand/ Sweet Potato Starchy Roots of Potato, Sweet potato 20g 1.6g 0.1g Vit A, Vit B6, Mn
Aaloo/ Potato Starchy Roots of Potato 17g 2g 0.1g K, Ca, Iron, Ph, Vit C, Vit K1, Vit B6, Vit B5
Kuttu atta/ Buckwheat Seeds of Buckwheat 70g 12.62g 3.1g Vit B6, Mg, Iron, K, Mn, Omega 6
Samvat Rice/ Samo Seed 36g 3g 1g Iron, Ca, Vit C, Vit A
Singhare ka atta/ Water chestnut Starchy Seed 24g 1g 0.1g K, Na, Vit C, Vit B6, Mg
Ramdana/ Amranth Seeds 128g 28g 12g Iron, Ca, Vit C

Source:

Difference Between Seeds and Grains

Filed Under: Health Product Reviews Tagged With: Fasting, Food, kand, kuttu, makhana, potato, sabudana, sago, sama rice, singhara, sweet potato, water chestnut1 Comment

Primary Sidebar

Recently Updated Posts

  • Phone Consultation

    Dear Parents, If you are confused with too much information and you are still unable to make a sound decision, you may book a paid...

  • Do you know the secret behind Awards given to Schools?

    Let me tell you this interesting incident about the secret behind awards given to schools. Yesterday once again someone messaged me to grace their occasion...

  • The Overlooked Career Options In India

    The Career Options in India Parents of my generation would agree that we did not have many career options in India. Nor was the internet...

  • Ready Reckoner How to Choose the Right Board

    Jump To Summary Table of ContentsHow to choose the right board?State Boards National BoardsInternational BoardsWhich Board is Best for my child?SummaryAbout Author How to choose...

  • 2023 Ask Pune School Admission Expert

    Hi Dear Parent, This post is for Parents like you who are seeking information, reviews, views, and data about best boards, best school in Pune...

Admission Eligibility

Age Eligibility Calculator

Age Calculator




Age Eligibility Criteria

Age Eligibility Criteria

Class Minimum Age Maximum Age
Playgroup 2 years 2 years 11 months
Class Nursary 3 years 3 years 11 months
Class JrKg 4 years 4 years 11 months
Class SrKg 5 years 5 years 11 months
Class 1 6 years 6 years 11 months

Search This Blog

Categories

Viral Articles

  • How I Taught My Kids to Self Study
  • How to Boost Confidence in Children
  • List of school reviews
  • Admission Dates of Pune Schools
  • CBSE, ICSE, IB, IGCSE - How to Choose Right School Board?

Important Articles

  • Top CBSE Schools in Pune
  • Pune School Admission Dates 2013-2014
  • Questions for Parents in school interview
  • Interview Question for Jr, Sr, Nursery Class
  • What is the right age to take admission
  • How to select best school?

My Favorite

  • Calcium Sandoz contains Aspartame that kills brain cells!
  • Compare health drinks for kids
  • How does an apple tree know it has to make apples and not mangoes?
  • Do you want a genius baby?
  • Review of Pediasure Protein Health Drink for Kids

All Posts




  • Admissions
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Sitemap
  • Workshops
  • Contact Me
  • New Parents Start Here

MadhurieSingh.com a venture of Edugrade Consulting © 2006–2023