Topic started by Sudha (@ sjcd-webcache-8.cisco.com) on Mon Dec 15 18:01:24 EST 2003.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

I'm looking for Ragi to prepare porridge for my toddler son. Is Ragi available in Indian Stores in the SFO bay area? I live in San Jose. I am told that Ragi powder is available in some Indian stores here. But I'm not sure if the Ragi was made to sprout before the powder was made. If anyone here has info about this, please share it with me. Thanks, Sudha.

Responses:

• From: Suhera Farook (@ 213.42.2.16) on: Tue Dec 16 02:14:08 EST 2003
  
  Ragi Porridge for toddlers can be prepared by soaking required amount in water (one hour is will do) and grind it in mixie. Filter the ragi milk and make a liquid paste of it by adding ghee and little sugar. In the same method, it can be added with milk instead of ghee.
  
  No need of sprouting the ragi. This is the normal food given two times for kids at Kerala for health.
  
  Here is another method collected from net
  
  "Raagi is a healthy food in minerals & vitamins. It is Cool(thanda) therefore in Winter much consumption is not advisable. When ghee is added it neutraliz. To start with Raagi preparation begin with one spoon increase daily as the body has to adjust with the new food.
  
  Raagi Milk is prepared in the following manner:-
  
  For one teaspoon of Raagi Powder take a cup of milk. First boil the milk and simultaneously mix the powder with little warm milk in a cup and make it into a smooth paste. When the milk boils then lower the gasflame and add the paste and stir the mixture continously so as to avoid formation of lumps. Then allow the milk to boil for once and remove. The mixture when cooled will automaticaaly get thicken. The same can be stored and then served to the kid. For flavour while boiling the milk elaichi powder, sugar and salt as per taste required is to be added. This is my great grandmothers recipe which I have been feeding my son since six months old till now. He is now 2 years old"
  
  Some other foods suitable for toddlers
  ---------------------------------------
  *You can give the fresh banana,Mash it with a spoon and feed it.
  *Just stream the apple pieces for 5 mnts, mash it and feed.
  
  *Ragi malt is the best breakfast.You can do it by your own.You can get the whole ragi from our Indian stores.(Don't buy flour from the store)
  *Soak a handful of ragi in water before you go to bed,grind it in the morning take the milk buy squeezing that,filter it with a muslin cloth or with a clean coffee filter.add a pinch of salt.mix it.
  *Just heat it in low heat,stir contineously,with 5 mints it will become like a paste,add a 1/4 milk and stir it.when it becomes like paste,remove it from the heat,when it reaches to warm stage, feed him .(if he likes sweet, you can add sugar with it.)
  
  *Fry some 2 tablespoons of peppercorns and 4 tablespoons of jeera in drops of ghee, make it as a powder and store in a cleaned air tight bottle.
  You can use this for every feeding,with rice, with idli,ans so on.
  
  You can feed 1/4 part of idli for the dinner.
  
  *Cook a tablespoon of dal with 2 baby carrots,(or a small piece of potato or 3 chopped beans or 3 pieces of cauliflower)1 teaspoon of chopped onion, 1 teaspoon of chopped tomatoes,a pinch of turmeric powder,a pinch of hing.(cooker is the best one to cook for babies)
  mash the whole items into a paste.
  *Mash 2 tablespoon of rice,add 4 or 5 tablespoons of mashed dal mixer and feed it for the lunch.
  *You can change the vegetable daily.
  *You can give the dal rice alternative days.
  *Without dal,boil only the vegetable with all other items, mix with the mashed rice and feed.(it can be cooked in a sause pan)This can be fed daily or in alternative days.
  
  Boil 1 cup of chopped spinach with a teaspoon of chopped onion,and a small piece of garlic.Cover it and cookit for 3 or 4 mnt.mash it and feed him with the mashed rice.
  twicw a week should be good.
  
  Home Made Rice Cereal
  Ghee (just enogh to roast the rice in)
  Rice
  
  1. Heat ghee on a girdle (tawa). Add rice and roast on low heat till the rice becomes light brown.
  2. Grind the rice in the mixer. Store this in an air-tight jar
  
  This powder can be used to make a nutritious and quick meal by adding milk or water to a few spoons of the powder. Add sugar or salt according to your child's preference.
  
  Ragi Sprouts Porridge
  
  Ragi
  Wheat grains
  Green Moong Dal
  2-3 Almonds
  Pinch of green cardamom powder
  
  1. Soak ragi. Leave till sprouts come out.
  2. Dry roast the sprouted ragi on a girdle (tawa).
  3. Also roast wheat, green moong dal, almonds.
  4. Mix all the roasted items.
  5. Grind these to a fine powder Add green cardamom powder for flavour. Store in an airtight container.
  
  When ready to use just add add milk and sugar/salt to 2-3 spoonfuls of the powder to make a tasty and highly nutritious meal for your baby.
  
  also refer this site:
  /aide/cook/solid1.htm
  
  
  
  
  
• From: Sudha (@ sjcd-webcache-8.cisco.com) on: Tue Dec 16 18:41:09 EST 2003
  
  Hi Suhera,
  
  Thanks a lot for your prompt response. Really appreciate it.
  
  Sudha.
  
  
• From: R (@ bgp530243bgs.ebrnsw01.nj.comcast.net) on: Wed Dec 17 10:43:02 EST 2003
  
  Hi Suhera,
  
  I use to give my daughter who is 10 months old, ragi porridge (mixture of ragi and other grains). Since you mentioned that it is not advisable to give during winter, I am a bit concerned.
  
  I live in cold country, so in a week, how many days I can give ? Because, the mixture is made without adding ghee, pls reply me.
  
  Thanks and Bye
  
  
• From: shivarani (@ cache35.156ce.maxonline.com.sg) on: Mon Jan 12 21:33:13
  
  Hi suhera,
  
  My son is 6 months and 15 days old,can i introduce ragi to him,if not when can i introduce to him .
  
  please reply me.
  
  
• From: R (@ bgp530243bgs.ebrnsw01.nj.comcast.net) on: Wed Feb 11 11:36:41
  
  Hi Suhera,
  
  Can u give the measurement of ragi porridge?\
  
  Thanks and Bye
  
  
• From: R (@ bgp530243bgs.ebrnsw01.nj.comcast.net) on: Wed Feb 11 11:37:29 EST 2004
  
  sorry, ragi sprouts porridge?
  
  
• From: eve perdok (@ px2ht.ok.shawcable.net) on: Sun Apr 11 01:42:02
  
  can anyone tell me hoe to make ragi . i would like o make tape from sweet rice.
  
  Thank you,
  Eve perdok
  Canada
  
  
• From: suji thomas (@ pcp01571095pcs.micske01.fl.comcast.net) on: Thu May 13 17:59:55
  
  Please tell me how much calorie per serving and carbohydrate content per serving. Thank you.
  
  
• From: anu (@ gw138127.net.hfh.edu) on: Fri May 28 21:23:42
  
  how do you make ragi kanchi in the traditioanl way?
  
  
• From: prakash (@ ) on: Wed Jun 30 07:30:36
  
  thanks
  
  
• From: Andal Balu (@ user-11fa49f.dsl.mindspring.com) on: Wed Jun 30 13:44:10 EDT 2004
  
  There is no real measurement for the Kanji (porridge). You can make it thick or thin according to your taste and so you can vary the amount of water. for babies, you can use one teaspoon of ragi flour to 6 oz. of water. I make it little thick then add yoghurt (homemade) and salt and pickle and drink it.
  For Subera's question - we give Ragi once the baby is introduced to solid foods (around 6 months). We give sweet rice first (payasam) and then give idlis and ragi kanji.
  
  
• From: jayaram (@ d1440m31.niehs.nih.gov) on: Thu Jul 22 15:17:17
  
  We are looking to buy ragi in big amount, 100-200 lb, that we could not find in Indian stores. Do any one know any means to buy ragi?
  thanks
  
  
• From: veena p salian (@ 202.88.211.155) on: Mon Jul 26 07:41:04 EDT 2004
  
  thanks suhera, please advice me except raagi which type of food/breakfast can be given to my son who is now nine months old
  
  
• From: sahithya (@ acb949c1.ipt.aol.com) on: Thu Aug 19 07:44:36
  
  i'am actually not able to find ragi in any of the stores in london-UK, could someone please tell me where i can find here in London.
  
  
• From: Andal Balu (@ adsl-214-51-177.asm.bellsouth.net) on: Mon Aug 23 21:04:11 EDT 2004
  
  Idli is a good breakfast for babies older than six months. YOu can give idlies with sugar. If you want to intorduce spicy foods to your child (once they turn one year), add the top layer of the rasam to the idlies. Or you can give idlies with yoghurt (homemade, preferred). You can give cooked rice with vegetables and mashed in a blender.
  Do not give fatty foods. Give mashed fruits.
  
  
• From: sangeetha (@ illhyd-203.199.178.77.static.vsnl.net.in) on: Sun Sep 19 02:03:36
  
  My daughter is 4 months old and i am planning to intordufe ragi as the first solid food. Shall i give her ragi powder which is been sold in the super market...or is there any other form of ragi.Which is better or is there any problem in giving ragi powder.
  
  
• From: Andal Balu (@ adsl-34-13-158.asm.bellsouth.net) on: Tue Sep 21 00:13:29 EDT 2004
  
  Do not start any food till the baby is at least six months old. Also check the ragi powder that you buy from the stores. I bought one packet and it had so much sand in it, I had to throw the whole thing. You have to taste it first and make sure it is pure before you give it to the baby.
  
  
• From: Jose Sebastian (@ ) on: Fri Oct 8 12:49:59
  
  We can supply RAGI powder form, washed, destoned, and hygienically packed in international standards.
  
  Aso we can supply a Nutritious 100@ Natural Food Product called "IREESH VITAPLUS HEALTHMIX & ENERGISER". It contains 16 varieties of pulses, cereals, dried nuts, soya bean etc. For more details please visit our webiste at: www.ireesh.com
  
  Best regards
  
  JOSE SEBASTIAN
  IREESH LIFE SCIENCES
  ERNAKULAM, KERALA, INDIA
  Phone: +914842323750 / mobile: +919869244125
  e.mail: info@ireesh.com
  
  
• From: Nalini Mukherjee (@ 203-213-84-4-syd-ts16-2600.tpgi.com.au) on: Fri Oct 15 03:04:18 EDT 2004
  
  what is ragi called in english. no one seems to know in the shops---indian grocery or inhealth food shops
  
  
• From: Suhera Farook (@ 195.229.241.169) on: Sat Oct 16 12:47:20 EDT 2004
  
  In English it is called finger millet. It would look like "rai" (kadugu) which is used for seasoning but of more brown.
  
  U can find it in south indian stores or srilankan stores. It is also "Koorakkan powder" in singalese and in Tamil "Kelvaragu" or Ragi
  and in Malayalam "Muthari". In hindi another name "nachni" and u can try in Gujarathi/Sindhi stores too.
  
  Botanical name: Eleusine coracana. It's called African millet also.
  
  

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