When We discuss about Jain, I just know that people will launch into a conversation about food habits. Eventually, you get used to it,” says most of the Jains. Quite truly, no other faith is so immediately associated with food, or rather an outlook to food, as Jainism.
The faith’s extreme take on non-violence heavily influences its dietary guidelines, meaning anything that involves hurting or killing a ‘life’ is forbidden. For strict followers, drinking water must be filtered, root vegetables like potatoes are forbidden, mangoes and cauliflower go off the list as soon as the monsoon sets in because they begin to harbour worms by then and mushrooms are a no-go either. Since the idea is to consume satvic food, ‘tamasic’ ingredients such as onion and garlic are also kept at bay. Any intoxicant, including poppy seeds, often used as a paste in curry bases, is not allowed either.
One would think Jains are starved for choices. As an adoptee of the Jain cuisine, by way of marriage, I have found the opposite to be true. Not only does the community indulge its love for food or khana, it wants to sample as many cuisines as possible - all altered as per Jain requirements. Where you won’t find Iyer, Chinese, it’s likely you have come across Jain Pav Bhaji, Jain Tex-Mex, Jain Continental or even Jain Chinese. Strictures have made the taste-buds hanker for something new and different, making way for innovations.
But the problem lies during travelling in train in India, none of the pantry cars serve pure jain food ,
Merafoodchoice , has understood this well and they have started service for pure vegetarian and jain food in India
They inform the restaurant nothing shall be made using onion or garlic. “A Jain diner only has to request it and we keep out any vegetable they don’t want served,” says the executive at merafoodchoice.
They have a separate team to manage the jain menus and one of founder being Jain helps.
They have a separate team to manage the jain menus and one of founder being Jain helps.
A Year old company Merafoodchoice has already delivered @ 1 lakh meals for people travelling in train in India.The have tieup with best resturants at more than 160 stations and cover around 6000 trains .
THey have delivered for big groups from 5 to 300 people
THey have delivered for big groups from 5 to 300 people
The menu is a bit of everything----Like idli vada,pav bhaji,panner sabji,kaju masala,, just as Jains eating out would love and also customized as per the order for group travelers in train
THis is definitely a welcome service for people who like good ,hygenic food khana in train or during any other travel in india .
