Nutritional Values & Health Benefits of Ragi (Finger Millet) for Kids
posted on Aug 05, 2022
One of the foremost priorities of parents is to feed nutrition-loaded food items to their children. No doubt, this is important because sufficient consumption of minerals, vitamins, and nutrients, in general, is crucial for the favorable growth and development of children. That being said, we understand it could get extremely confusing for parents to decide on ingredients that need to be fed on priority. Besides, one of the major problems in feeding healthy food to children remains with the taste of the food item, which oftentimes, children don’t like and thus say no to having it.
To that end, one such food item that is not merely loaded with the power of health but is also often liked by most kids is Ragi or Finger Millet.
So today, in this article below, we, at Gurukul The School, positioned among the best schools in Ghaziabad, are here to educate our respected parent fraternity about the many health and nutritional benefits that ragi can provide to your kids and why it should form an essential part of their diet. Let us get to know more about this.
- Excellent source of calcium:
You will be surprised to know that ragi is an excellent source of calcium to an extent wherein its calcium content is three times more than what is found in cow’s milk. Precisely, every hundred grams of Ragi contains 344 mg of calcium.
It is through this intake that it becomes possible to build and maintain strong bones among children. Additionally, calcium works wonders in supporting the functioning of the heart, muscles, and nerves.
We, at Gurukul The School, understand that taste buds differ between children. While it is important to feed children nutrient-rich food, what is equally or more important is to do so while keeping in mind your child’s likes and dislikes. This is another area where ragi comes to your rescue, as it can be used both as a sweet and savory ingredient. From Ragi dosa to Ragi porridge, there is a lot that you can do with this ingredient.
- Backs relaxation and good sleep:
With increasing stress and pressure revolving around children, it has become necessary to introduce children to nutritional elements that can ascertain relaxation and induce sleep. Here again, ragi makes a great selection. Scientifically, ragi is rich in amino acids, which helps to boost the content of serotonin in children’s body, which in turn promotes relaxation and undisturbed sleep cycles.
If you are looking to ensure the smooth functioning of your child’s digestive system, then we, at Gurukul The School, would like to suggest you to include more of Ragi in your child’s meals. Ragi is essentially fiber-rich bran, which has a pivotal role in making children feel fuller, thus eliminating the consumption of junk and unhealthy foods. This is what indirectly aids the digestion process.
While trying to feed children healthy and nutritious food items, one area that parents need to predominantly look into is the presence of gluten in the concerned ingredient. There is a possibility that your child may be intolerant to gluten. In such cases, you would want to get your hands on a healthy nutrient that is 100% gluten-free. This is exactly where ragi pops up in the picture.
At times, children do not get enough protein intake, and this predominantly happens in vegetarian households where eggs and meat do not form a dietary inclusion. This is exactly where ragi works as a fantastic substitute.
Just like wheat and barley, ragi is an excellent source of protein. Protein is no doubt a prerequisite in children for repairing existing cells and forming new ones. Likewise, children’s growth and development depend largely on their protein intake, which is another reason for parents to choose ragi as an important dietary element for their kids.
Are you feeding your children ragi-enriched meals?
All this while, if you have been in search of ingredients that can provide the right dose of nutrition and health to your children, there is no looking beyond ragi. The best part about Ragi is that you can easily mould it into food items that look appealing and taste spot on. This done right, you need not worry about your child throwing tantrums as far as consumption of ragi-based food is concerned.
At Gurukul The School, ranked among the best schools in Ghaziabad, we have made it a practice to educate both children and parents about the many food ingredients that contribute positively to each of our lives. We believe it is this information that can help parents in helping children adopt a healthy lifestyle. So parents, make sure to add ragi to the diet of your kids and let them experience the multiple health benefits that this wonder food has to offer!