Millets, pulses & grains: India’s superfoods for the future

Recent Millet-Related Highlights

• PM Poshan Scheme's Millet Cooking Competition
  Delhi hosted its first-ever millet-based culinary contest under the PM Poshan mid-day meal initiative. Focusing on porridges and millet dishes, the event aims to make healthy eating appealing to children. Over 16.6 lakh students across nearly 2,800 schools benefit from this scheme, which now includes millets in its menu (for the 2024–25 academic year). The Akshaya Patra Foundation secured the top spot in the competition. 
• Millets, Pulses & Grains: India’s Superfoods for the Future
  A feature published on September 9, 2025, underscores the resurgence of traditional foods like millets, pulses, and whole grains. Drawing from Ayurveda’s holistic approach to well-being, the article highlights millets as nutrient-dense foods aligned with sustainable, health-conscious living. 
• Consumer Survey on Millet Habits
  A recent study by the World Food Programmed and Nutri Hub revealed key behavioral barriers to millet consumption. Surveying households across five states (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh), the findings show:

  Barrier	Insight
  Taste Preference	91% choose millets based on taste
  Low Awareness	75% unaware of millets’ nutritional benefits
  Consumption Frequency	90% consume millets only occasionally
  Myths	Many view millets as winter‑exclusive and time‑consuming to cook
  Government Campaigns	Only 34% are aware of promotional efforts

  The survey emphasizes the need for stronger public education and broader access to millet products.

Key Themes

1. Institutional Support & Promotion
   Initiatives like the millet-centric cooking competition under PM Poshan demonstrate growing institutional commitment to making millets a regular part of school nutrition.
2. Health & Cultural Relevance
   Rebranding millets as heritage superfoods rooted in Ayurveda is helping shift public perception—from being seen as “poor man’s food” to becoming desirable, health-forward dietary options.
3. Persistent Consumption Barriers
   Despite growing interest, misconceptions, low awareness, and taste-related resistance remain significant hurdles. These insights underscore the importance of targeted outreach, innovative recipes, and accessible forms of millet-based products.