HOW HEALTHY ARE OUR MEAL PATTERNS?

India, as you are probably aware, has an economy based mainly on agriculture. Though there has been a considerable increase in the production of food grains over the past several-decades, the concomitant increase in population has offset the balance. The nutritional status of the population is a reflection of their food consumption patterns. Thus, before making any attempt to improve the nutritional status of our people, it is essential to know how healthy our meal patterns are.

A variety of cereals, pulses, fruits and vegetables as also flesh foods like meat, fish, egg and poultry are available in India. Cereals are the staple food supplemented by pulses, milk and its products, seasonal fruits and vegetables. The diets of nonvegetarians, include cereals and pulses besides the flesh foods. If sufficient food from all the basic food groups is consumed, the vegetarian diets will not only be nutritionally adequate but also suitable for highly active individuals like athletes, runners, bicyclists, labourers, etc. It is not surprising, therefore, that more and more people are now adopting a vegetarian diet pattern.

The majority of the Indian population being poor, their dietary patterns are nutritionally inadequate. Their diets consist predominantly of cereals with negligible amounts of other foods. This is the reason for widespread malnutrition in India especially among women and growing children. Therefore, there is a strong need to educate the people on the importance of eating a mixed diet consisting of a variety of foods whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian.

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