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Archive for July, 2014|Monthly archive page


How do kids’ tastes change?

In How on 18 July 2014 at 7:07 pm

I have been trying to understand how toddler’s tastebuds change, but unable to find right sort of literature for it. My son used to love all fruits and green smoothie until he was 11 months old.  His appetite reduced a great deal and after sometimes his tastebuds too changed drastically. Slowly he stopped eating fruits and green smoothie. He only used to have some bits of watermelon until 10 days ago. He stopped that too now. He only eats occasional chickoo.

Yummy in my tummy!

Yummy in my tummy!

I had read in several places about how mother’s diet affects child’s liking to certain foods through breastfeeds. I have done everything by the book, consumed lots of greens, fruits, etc. I thought it was working too until quite recently.  I really want to understand how his mind works and chooses certain foods over others.  Will he ever get back to fruits now? Read the rest of this entry »


Simple Tomato Soup

In Recipes on 17 July 2014 at 12:35 pm

As always, Amma promises you simple recipes, the kind that you will actually make and not longingly admire on the page.  Considering how easy it is to get actually ripe tomatoes in India, it is a wonder that dry soup mixes even make it to market.   Their appeal could be that they are popular in Western countries where the growing season is shorter and “vine ripened” tomatoes merit special announcement in the grocery store.  Here we get tomatoes that are heavy with juice, red through and through and bursting with flavor.

Soup simmers in iron wok

Soup simmers in iron wok

The yumminess of this soup depends on the tomato so don’t try this if the inside of your tomato looks pale and hollow.  Most of the soup mixes and cans use an inferior quality of tomato and add sugar, fat and artificial flavor to compensate.  A fresh, ripe tomato Read the rest of this entry »


Sprouts Unlock Nutrients

In What on 15 July 2014 at 11:25 pm

Are sprouts a good source of probiotics?   How can we increase probiotics in our diet?

Amma of a 4-year old in Bangalore

Well, Chetana, thanks for asking.  Many of us know generally that soaking, sprouting and fermenting all have an important role to play in making nutrients more available.  Considering that the grains themselves do most of the work, it’s a wonder that in spite of knowing this we don’t always do it.  There could hardly be an easier way to multiply nutrients while doing nothing.  Now let us look at how and what.

mung2

Mung Beans Sprouting in a Colander

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“The sling became part of my attire”

In What on 10 July 2014 at 7:47 pm

“This sling became part of my attire, like an essential thing that you can’t forget when you get out of the house.”

– Rajitha Gopinath, Mumbai

Rajitha and Kavya at sunset

Rajitha and Kavya

Rajitha, Amma to 3 year-old Kavya and newborn Karthik, knows how to make the most of available resources.  Reminding us of the lovely places to explore in Mumbai, she writes about Parks of Mumbai.  You can see her here taking in the sunset with her daughter, who rides along in a simple sling that Rajitha fashioned with sturdy wooden bangles.   Unlike any other ring sling I have ever seen, this requires no sewing and you can get it ready to wear in a minute.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Korra Pulihara

In Recipes on 3 July 2014 at 7:55 pm

Korra PuliharaWe are certainly not the first to post a recipe for కొర్ర పులిహార, but we just may be the most popular – that depends on you 😉  Fortunately we have millet champion Sunitha from Seattle who has a direct link to the Millets Initiative in Ananthapur and brought home a variety of millets last time she went to visit the farmers there.  Foxtail Millet is a small grain that cooks easily.  Just as we eat different vegetables every day, why not different grains? asks Dinesh of village Kadri.  Dinesh coordinates the Millets Initiative in Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh.   As someone who eats rice every day, all I can say is, “what a concept!”

Sunitha makes it look so easy and we lose no time getting the good news to you. Read the rest of this entry »

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CRINGE: David Bradley offers to out-mother Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi’s own mother.

In News & Notes on 3 July 2014 at 3:53 pm

What is more cringeworthy than the CEO of PepsiCo insisting that there is nothing wrong with artificial sweeteners & GMOs and announcing “peace drones” to deliver Pepsi (even in Pakistan!)?

The owner of the Atlantic trying to mother her.
David Bradley, owner of The Atlantic and Indra Nooyi, CEO of Pepsi at the Aspen Ideas Festival.

David Bradley, owner of The Atlantic reassures Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo of her wonderfulness at the Aspen Ideas Festival.

We are talking creepy crawly cringeworthy, that makes you shudder from the shoulder and grimace out of your ears. Read the rest of this entry »