What did ancient Indians eat and the food practices they followed

From fruits and vegetables to grains and lentils, in today’s time, there is such a large variety of options to choose from. With food products available round the year, we are definitely spoilt for choice. But do you know, that some of the foods we eat today were also eaten by ancient Indians thousands of years ago? Read on to know more. (image credits-istock)

Ancient Indians primarily included fresh and natural foods in their daily diet. They depended on seasonal produce and switched their diet according to the availability of seasonal vegetables and fruits.

When it comes to vegetables, some common veggies that were common back in those days were brinjal, pumpkin, peas, jackfruit and spinach. All such vegetables were cooked in minimal spices and in a simple manner.

When it comes to fruits, there was a large variety to choose from. Mangoes, jujube (ber), banana, papaya, wood apple, jamun, melon and even dates were quite popular.

Also Read: Why some people sprinkle water around the plate before eating

Grains and pulses were a staple foods of ancient Indians. Do you know that even Rig Veda mentions certain popular lentils and their use too? Among the lentils, red, black, and green lentils were the most widely consumed ones.

Grains like wheat, barley, rice, maize, jowar, bajra were widely consumed, both in flour and grain form. Karambha was a type of Khichdi and quite a common dish cooked using barley, flour and curd.

Ancient Indian included a wide spectrum of grains in their daily diet to suffice for different nutritional requirements of the body.

People in ancient Indian included all types of milk products in their daily diet. Most of the people domesticated cows at home which gave them fresh milk on a daily basis. Products like curd, ghee, buttermilk, butter and even paneer were made at home.

Also Read: 7 buttermilk recipes that are a must have this summer

Pressure cookers and non-stick pans might have made our life easier, but back in the days earthen pots and slow-cooking were the only two ways people chose to cook food. Earthen pots retain the nutrients of the food and slow cooking ensures that all flavours stay intact.

Not just recipes and dishes, ancient Indians followed certain rules while eating, that all families, irrespective of the caste, status or creed followed religiously.

Sitting on the floor- Indians sat directly on the floor while eating that too in a cross-legged position. It is said that this position aided digestion and prevented bloating.

Eating with hands- Fancy cutlery was a practice introduced to us by the Western world. Before that, eating with hands was a common practice that all Indians followed. It is said that eating with hands helped connect better with food.

Eating silently- Talking while eating food was considered impolite and rude. Food was meant to be eaten in peace and talking with food in the mouth was also termed unhygienic.

Praying before eating- Praying before eating is one such practice that we must follow in today’s time as well. Thanking God for food was a sign of gratitude and respect for God.

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