Volume 9, Issue 8, August – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24AUG1236

Exploring the Intuitive Salt Measurement

Practices of Indian Mothers: A Study Through
Mathematical and Machine Learning Lenses
Amitesh Verma

Abstract:- The ability of Indian mothers to intuitively people often overlook the connection between Machine
assess the ideal salt levels for different dishes and family Learning and our daily routines.
members is truly remarkable. They take into account
several variables, such as the current weather, the day of I made the decision to take my work beyond a single
the week, the emotional state of the family, portion sizes, slide and develop a comprehensive paper that articulates my
and the specific traits of the ingredients used. This reflections on a widely practiced culinary habit in our
research investigates the fundamental processes behind everyday lives, which has an intricate link to a Machine
this intuitive approach, developing a detailed Learning technique.
mathematical framework to capture the nuances of salt
measurement. Mastering the art of seasoning, particularly the
measurement of salt in Indian cooking, is a nuanced process
The measurement of salt in cooking is an intricate influenced by a variety of factors. Indian mothers, drawing
art form that intertwines cultural insights, personal from their extensive experience, skillfully modify salt
experience, and instinctual knowledge. For Indian quantities by considering numerous changing elements.his
mothers, the ability to estimate salt without precise paper intends to clarify the intuitive cooking method by
instruments is a time-honored culinary skill, passed down developing a mathematical model and linking it to concepts
through generations. from machine learning. By analyzing the correlation between
salt usage and its influencing factors, we introduce a
This study investigates the subtleties of this practice structured approach to better understand and communicate
by utilizing mathematical modeling and machine learning this culinary skill.
techniques. By analyzing data collected from a group of
Indian mothers, the research aims to quantify and reveal II. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK AND
the patterns that guide their intuitive salt measurements. MACHINE LEARNING ANALOGY
The findings illuminate the balance between precision
and intuition in traditional cooking methods and propose A. Feature Identification
avenues for integrating these age-old practices into the In machine learning, feature selection is crucial for
realm of modern culinary technology. accurate predictions. Similarly, the following features are
identified in the salt measurement process:
The model is akin to machine learning algorithms,
facilitating the passing down of culinary expertise to  Weather and Seasonality
future generations. We develop a formula to determine
the ideal salt quantity and offer visual aids, including  Hot and Humid Weather:
graphs and tables, to demonstrate the relationship In hotter climates or during the summer months, the
between various factors and the amount of salt needed. body tends to lose more salt through sweat. Indian mothers
instinctively increase the salt content slightly in such
I. INTRODUCTION conditions to help replenish lost electrolytes. For example, a
dish like raita (yogurt-based side) might have a bit more salt
While I was enjoying a cup of coffee at Starbucks and to ensure it's refreshing and hydrating.
fine-tuning my presentation on Machine Learning, which I
was set to present to a group of college students in a week, a  Cold Weather:
fellow coffee enthusiast sitting across from me inquired about During colder months, the need for salt might be less
the image of an Indian village woman featured in my slides. pronounced, as the body doesn’t lose as much through
perspiration. Mothers may reduce the salt slightly in soups
She questioned how I was associating a conventional and stews to keep them comforting but not overly salty. They
Indian village lady with the advanced and multifaceted topic might also focus on warming spices that complement the
of Machine Learning. After I shared my insights with her and reduced salt level, enhancing the dish’s flavor without
she seemed content, even asking if she could reference my making it taste bland.
examples in her future speeches, I began to reflect on why

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Volume 9, Issue 8, August – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24AUG1236

 Monsoon Season: the dish. Mothers account for this by reducing the additional
The monsoon season in India brings high humidity, salt to ensure the final dish is not overly salty.
which can affect how ingredients absorb salt. Indian mothers
are aware that dishes might need a bit more salt to prevent  Combination of Ingredients:
them from tasting flat, especially when cooking things like In a mixed vegetable curry or a layered dish like biryani,
deep-fried snacks or hearty curries. mothers know how different ingredients interact with salt.
Potatoes, for example, absorb more salt than other vegetables,
 Day of the Week so the amount of salt is adjusted to balance the entire dish.
They might add salt gradually, tasting at intervals to ensure
 Weekdays vs. Weekends: that the final product is harmonious.
Weekday meals in Indian households are often simpler
and quicker to prepare, like a basic dal or a vegetable stir-fry. B. Data Collection and Training
Mothers know that these dishes may require less salt, as they Indian mothers gather experiential data over time, akin
are meant to be light and easy on the stomach after a long day. to training a machine learning model with data. Their
On weekends, when meals might be more elaborate, such as "training" involves iterative adjustments and feedback loops,
a rich biryani or a festive spread, the salt content is adjusted refining their internal model to achieve optimal seasoning.
to suit the complexity and richness of the dishes.
C. Model Adaptation
 Fasting Days: Just as machine learning models adjust hyper
On certain days when family members might be fasting parameters for better performance, Indian mothers modify
(such as during Navratri or Ekadashi), Indian mothers are salt quantities based on contextual factors. This dynamic
mindful of the type of salt used (often opting for sendha adjustment is reflected in our proposed mathematical model.
namak or rock salt) and adjust the amount to maintain both
tradition and health. III. MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF SALT
DETERMINATION
 Mood and Emotional State
 Defining Parameter
 Comfort Food: To model the salt measurement process, we introduce
When a family member is feeling down or stressed, the following parameters:
Indian mothers often turn to comfort foods, like a simple
khichdi (a rice and lentil dish) or poha (flattened rice). These
dishes are lightly salted, as too much salt can be
overwhelming when one seeks comfort. The idea is to make
the food soothing, both in taste and in its ability to nurture.

 Celebratory Mood:
On days of celebration or when the family is in high
spirits, the dishes are often more indulgent, and the salt is
adjusted to enhance flavors robustly. A dish like paneer
makhani or chole would have a balanced, yet slightly richer,
salt content to match the celebratory mood.

 Stressful Days:
If a mother senses that the family has had a tough day,
she might prepare something that’s familiar and comforting,
ensuring the salt level is perfectly tuned to provide a sense of
normalcy and stability.

 Ingredient of the Dish

 Salt Measurement Formula
 Fresh vs. Preserved Ingredients: The formula for calculating salt amount (S) is
Indian mothers know that fresh vegetables and meats
absorb salt differently than preserved or canned ingredients.
For instance, fresh greens like spinach need less salt, while a
dish made with dried pulses might require more.

 Naturally Salty Ingredients:

Certain ingredients like cheese (paneer), soy sauce (used
in Indo-Chinese dishes), or pickles already contribute salt to

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Volume 9, Issue 8, August – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24AUG1236

 Example Calculation
Consider the following scenario:

IV. GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF FACTORS AFFECTING SALT QUANTITY

 Data Preparation
We prepare a dataset with varying values for each factor to analyze their impact on salt quantity. The dataset includes values
for weather, weekday, mood, portion size, and ingredients for different Indian dishes.

 Correlation Graphs

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Volume 9, Issue 8, August – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24AUG1236

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Volume 9, Issue 8, August – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24AUG1236

V. EXAMPLE DATA AND TABLES

 Example Table of Salt Quantities

Table 1 Example Table of Salt Quantities

Dish Family Member Weather Weekday Mood Portion Ingredients Salt (g)
Dal Tadka Father Cold Monday Good 2 Medium 5.82
Aloo Gobi Mother Hot Sunday Neutral 4 Low 8.34
Chicken Curry Son Rainy Friday Good 3 High 7.21
Paneer Butter
Daughter Humid Saturday Bad 2 Medium 5.06
Masala
Sambhar Grandmother Cold Wednesday Good 3 Low 8.11

 Note: The values are a sample and the actual values for plotting graphs will be generated based on specific experiments and
observations which are in scope for future work of the paper.

VI. ANALOGIES TO MACHINE LEARNING scratch but builds on the refined understanding, much like
fine-tuning a model on a new dataset.
The following parallels can be drawn between the
process of adding salt to a dish and training a machine learning  Experience-Driven Learning:
model. The formula evolves as it is used and adapted by each
new generation, similar to how machine learning models are
 Learning and Adaptation continuously improved with more data and experience.

 Initial Training: VII. CONCLUSION

Just like an Indian mother starts with basic knowledge
and learns through experience, a machine learning model This paper provides a detailed examination of how Indian
begins with initial training data and improves over time mothers intuitively determine the appropriate salt quantity in
through iteration. dishes. By developing a mathematical model and relating it to
machine learning principles, we offer a systematic approach to
 Fine-Tuning: understanding and transferring this culinary expertise.
As mothers adjust the salt based on the factors
mentioned, machine learning models fine-tune their The use of graphical representations further clarifies the
parameters based on feedback from the loss function or impact of each factor on the salt amount.
performance metrics.
FUTURE WORK
 Contextual Adjustments:
The dynamic adaptation to mood, weather, and other Future investigations may focus on the variations in salt
factors is similar to how models adapt to new data patterns or preferences across different regions and broaden the model to
external variables in real-world applications. integrate other types of seasonings. By enlarging the dataset
and employing machine learning algorithms, the model's
 Transfer Learning accuracy and practical application could be greatly enhanced.

 Generational Knowledge: This paper fuses time-honored culinary traditions with

The process of passing down the salt formula is akin to modern computational strategies, offering a unique lens
transfer learning, where a pre-trained model is adapted to a through which to view the art of seasoning in Indian cuisine.
new but related task. The next generation doesn’t start from

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Volume 9, Issue 8, August – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24AUG1236

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