Feature image courtesy: Sanchita Daswani/Shutterstock

On a Monday morning, a seven-year-old opens his tiffin box in school. Inside are bright orange millet idlis, a small tub of chutney, and a sprinkling of microgreens shaped like bunny ears. He beams as his friends crowd around, curious. In another corner, his classmate struggles with a packet of chips and a cream-filled biscuit, finishing quickly but still feeling hungry.

These little lunchbox stories play out in schools across India every day. For many parents, convenience often trumps nutrition in the rush of mornings. Yet, a quiet revolution is taking shape in kitchens: a return to grains like ragi and bajra, paired with microgreens that can be grown on a windowsill.

It’s not nostalgia driving this change, but necessity. Rising childhood obesity, allergies, and attention issues are nudging parents to rethink food. Nutritionists are urging families to revive traditional superfoods, not as a trend, but as everyday essentials.

So why are millets and microgreens being hailed as game-changers? And how can today’s busy parents weave them into their children’s diets without mealtime battles?

Microgreens: Tiny greens, big impact

For many, microgreens still conjure images of fancy restaurant plates. But step into a growing number of Indian homes, and you’ll find trays of mustard, radish, or sunflower microgreens perched on balconies. Within 10 to 12 days of planting, they’re ready to harvest with their tiny, tender shoots bursting with nutrition.

“Microgreens are fun for kids because they can grow them right on a windowsill,” says Sanchita Daswani, a Hong Kong-based nutritionist. “They’re rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and even protein in small quantities. And when children participate in planting and plucking them, they develop a real connection with food.”

She adds that parents often underestimate how versatile these tiny greens are. “You can sprinkle them on parathas, stuff them into wraps, or even blend them into chutneys. Once kids start growing them, they actually get excited to eat them.”

Sandhya Narasimhan, a Thane-based clinical nutritionist and lactation counsellor, agrees on their potency: “Microgreens are power-packed with iron, selenium, magnesium — nutrients that play a huge role in children’s growth, mood, and cognitive development.”

Science supports their claims: microgreens can hold up to 40 times more nutrients than mature vegetables. Just a handful in a sandwich can quietly boost a child’s intake of vitamins A, C, and K.

Millets: Ancient grains for modern kids

If microgreens are the newcomers, millets are the wise elders making a comeback. For centuries, ragi laddoos, jowar rotis, and bajra khichdi filled Indian plates. Then, as polished rice and packaged cereals gained popularity, millets slipped into the background.

Now, they’re returning, not as “superfoods of the West”, but as staples with deep Indian roots.

“As we all know, millets are a powerhouse of........

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