Healthier Foods from Navadarshanam

In pursuit of the goal of alternative life-styles that take into account ecological and spiritual perspectives, we at Navadarshanam have imbibed the principles of food and health as taught at the nearby Atheetha Ashram, and have developed food items keeping in mind these principles. Our aim is to make food items healthy as well as tasty. Among these items, a few are made by our village workers on a larger scale and supplied by us to our friends in Bangalore who think along similar lines and wish to incorporate these ideas in their lives.

Foods are available at various locations in Bangalore, including several "Namdhari's Fresh" stores. Click here to find out more about where to purchase them.

Items currently available are:

  1. Unpolished rice: Red in colour, it is made from a highly nutritious variety of dry land paddy, which is grown organically. Advantages: (a) polish has not been removed, so the really healthy part of the rice has been retained, unlike in the usual white rice we eat (b) this rice variety absorbs a lot of water, so less quantity is required for making a meal, hence it is economical (c)the seed is of the traditional, indigenous variety, not the modern, hybrid ones, so the rice is more natural and healthy. Price: Rs.30/kg.
  2. Herbal Tea: Made according to an ancient ayurvedic recipe using selected herbs – lemon grass, brahmi, cardamom, saunf, tulasi, cloves, ginger, lavang, pepper, rose petals, mulaithi, arjun bark, ashwagandha, cinnamon and green tea – this herbal tea has medicinal properties and is useful in tackling disorders relating to digestion, respiration, blood pressure, cholesterol, arthritis etc. Price Rs. 100 for 100 gms. bottle (makes 100-150 cups of tea), also smaller pack of 50 gms. available for Rs.55.
  3. Sprouted, Roasted Dalia: Broken wheat (labshi) made on a stone grinder after sprouting wheat of superior quality. This ensures higher nutritional value because (a) there is no appreciable rise in temperature during processing, thus preserving the wheat’s vitamins and minerals (b) sprouting adds proteins and others nutrients. The dalia has also been roasted, to enhance taste as well as shelf life. Price Rs.35/ 500gm.pack.
  4. Peanut Butter: Made by hand, with no artificial inputs, using organically grown peanuts. Advantages: (a) no chemicals and harmful preservatives – processed peanut butter available in the market generally contains hydrogenated oils, which is harmful (b) good quality peanuts used. Price: Rs.75 for 300 gm bottle.
  5. Sprouted, Roasted Rava: Made on a stone grinder after sprouting wheat. This ensures higher nutritional value because (a) there is little temperature rise during processing, thus preserving the wheat’s vitamins and minerals (b) sprouting adds nutrients. The rava has also been roasted, to enhance taste as well as shelf life. Price Rs.35 for 500gms.
  6. Tomato Sauce with dry fruits: Made from organically grown tomatoes, raisins, and dates, this thick sauce is tastier and healthier than those generally available in the market. No preservatives or chemicals added. Price Rs.55 for 300gm. bottle.
  7. Mango Pickles: Made from organically grown mangoes in the North Indian style Price  Rs.70 for 400 gms. bottle.
  8. Mango Pickle without oil: Made from organically grown mangoes, using salt and hing as preservatives. Price Rs.70 for 400 gm bottle.
  9. Avakai: Andhra style pickle made with organically grown mangoes. Rs.65 for 350 gm bottle
  10. Chundha: Sweet mango pickle made by sun-cooking organically grown mangoes. Price Rs. 60 for 300 gms. bottle.
  11. Lemon Pickles: Made according to an ancient recipe involving sun drying of organically lemons, is totally free of oil and has medicinal properties - useful in cold, cough and sinus problems. Price Rs. 70 for a 400 gms. bottle.
  12. Readymade Idly Mix: A readymade mix using organically grown unpolished rice of the red variety. No grinding needed, the mix has to be dissolved in water and allowed to rise. Gives delicious idlis which are healthier than those available in market as rice used is more nutritious, and no preservatives or chemicals are added. Price Rs.40/ 500g. (A separate Dosa Mix is also available at same price. )
  13. Non-detergent soap: This soap (supplied to us by a friend) is made without using detergent. Being biodegradable unlike most soaps sold in the market, it is ecologically friendly (effluents from this soap will not harm plants) and also better for the skin and health. Price Rs.10/piece, also bigger pack for Rs.20.
  14. Organic jaggery: This jaggery is made by friends using sugarcane that was grown organically and then processed into jaggery without adding any masalas. Advantages: (a) no chemicals used (b) no artificial colouring (c) no mud particles. Price Rs.35/500g pack.
  15. Lemon Juice Concentrate:
    Made by sun-cooking organically grown lemons and sugar. Adding 2 spoons of this concentrate to water makes a delicious, healthy drink. Price Rs.70 / 250 ml.
  16. Chyavanprash: Made according to an ayurvedic specialist’s recipe using amla, 52 carefully selected herbs and pure ghee. Rs.100 for a 450gm. bottle.
  17. Health Sweets: Laddus made from sprouted wheat flour (wheat is first sprouted, then dried, then dry roasted and then ground) and organically grown jaggery, with a little peanut and til  or cardamom added. Advantages: (a) no oil or ghee used, so not fatty (b) sprouting increases food value (c) jaggery used instead of sugar, which contains many harmful chemicals (d) very tasty, but eating several at a time does not cause health problems, unlike the usual sweets we eat. Price: Rs.35 for 200gms pack.
  18. Stone-ground atta: Made using a solar powered stone-grinder which does not allow the temperature to rise. It has the following advantages over the usual atta from the mills: (a) the nutrients and vitamins in the wheat germ - B1, niacin, B2, iron and zinc - are not destroyed, because there is no significant rise in temperature during processing (b) the bran is also retained, so fiber content is higher. Price: Rs.38/kg.
  19. Dry Fruits & Nuts delight: A sugar-free sweet made using dates, figs, almonds and other nuts. Price Rs.45 for 100gm pack.
  20. Honey: Collected from the Reserve forest, this honey is pure and has medicinal properties. Price Rs.75 per bottle (300gm).
  21. Narthangai  Pickle: made from organically grown bitter lemons having special nutritional value. Rs.70/ bottle.
  22. Dried Lemon Grass: Converts tea into healthy and economical drink. Rs.30 for 50gm pack.
  23. Turmeric Powder:  Organically grown, pure turmeric powder. Rs.30 for 100gms.
  24. Chilli Powder: Organically grown, pure chilli powder. Rs.25 for 100gms.
  25. Ragi Hittu: From organically grown ragi. Rs.25/kg.
  26. Ragi Huri Hittu: From organically grown ragi. Rs.30 for 500gms.
  27. Rice Atta: From organically grown, dry land, high-nutrition paddy. Rs.25  for 500gms.
  28. Baby food for up to 1 year olds: Made using the traditional Indian recipes by sprouting organically grown ragi. Rs.40 for 500gms. pack.
  29. Kids food for those over one year: Made using traditional Indian recipe by sprouting ragi+wheat+moong dal, and adding badam in powder form. Rs.50 for 500gms.pack.
  30. Tamarind: Organically grown, thoroughly cleaned after removing seeds. Rs.40/half kg.
  31. Sambar Powder: Special, extremely tasty, made from a recipe consisting of several unique ingredients. Can also be used to make pulao and khichdi. Rs.40 for 100gms. pack.
  32. Green Tea: Has anti-oxidant medicinal properties.  Rs.50 for 100g pack.
  33. Healthy Mixture: Made by dry roasting poha (flattened rice) and other items. A tasty yet healthy snack. Rs.45 for 200g pack.
  34. Guava Jelly: Made from organically grown guavas. Rs. 60 for 300g pack.
  35. Guava Toffee: Special sweet made from organically grown guavas. Rs. 70 for 200g pack.