A simple kitchen trick from Samastipur in Bihar could turn your everyday breakfast bread into a genuine nutrition booster. Most people already know how moringa, known locally as sahajan, tastes as a vegetable, but very few realise its leaves can be turned into a nutritious and tasty bread. Even when moringa pods are out of season, the leaves alone can be used to prepare healthy bread at home. This information was shared by Dr. Savita Kumari, professor at the College of Community Science, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa.
What Makes Moringa Leaves So Nutritious
According to Dr. Savita Kumari, moringa leaves are considered an excellent source of iron, calcium, fibre, vitamin A and several other essential nutrients. When powder made from these leaves is mixed into ordinary bread, the bread stops being just a quick breakfast item and turns into a nutrient dense food for the entire family. She explains that this bread can benefit people of every age, from children to the elderly. It is especially useful for those who rush out of the house in the morning eating nothing but plain bread, since this method lets them make that same breakfast far more nourishing without changing their routine.
How To Make Nutritious Moringa Bread At Home
Professor Savita Kumari says the process of making this bread is remarkably simple and does not require any special equipment. The first step is to pluck fresh, clean moringa leaves. These leaves are then steamed lightly using warm water and dried thoroughly afterwards, so that all the moisture in them is completely removed. Once the leaves are fully dry, they are ground in a mixer into a fine powder. This powder is then mixed in the right quantity into wheat flour or the mixture used to make bread, and the bread is prepared following the usual process. Dr. Kumari notes that bread made this way retains a good taste while its nutritional value increases manifold. If this powder is included in daily meals on a regular basis, the body can easily receive several essential nutrients that it would otherwise miss.
How It Compares To Regular Market Bread
Dr. Savita Kumari points out that because of today's busy lifestyles, most people rely on bread bought from the market for their morning breakfast. Such bread is largely made of refined flour, or maida, and contains very little fibre. But if the same bread is enriched with moringa leaf powder, it automatically gains important nutrients such as fibre, iron, calcium and vitamin A. This does not just make the bread tastier, it makes it considerably healthier as well. She adds that moringa leaves are rich in medicinal properties, and consuming them regularly helps the body receive better overall nutrition.
Spreading Awareness About Low Cost Nutrition
Dr. Savita Kumari mentioned that her department continues to make people aware of such easy, balanced diet recipes from time to time, so that they can make their everyday food more nutritious without spending much extra money. This moringa leaf bread is one example of that effort, offering a significant nutritional benefit at a very low cost.
