Average Indian diet lacking protein, fruit and veg: report

New research comparing Indian diet across various income groups to the acclaimed EAT-Lancet diet found that Indians are not getting enough proteins, fruits and vegetables. The International Food Policy Research Institute's findings say that Indians are overeating cereals, which make up 47% of our diet and the average Indian's total calorie intake is around 2,200 kcals per person per day, 12 per cent lower than the EAT-Lancet reference diet's recommendation. However, the authors say even at low-calorie intake, obesity is on the rise which could be due to a sedentary lifestyle.

The EAT-Lancet diet recommends primary consumption of plant-based foods and little to no processed meat and starchy vegetables. The average Indian's fruit consumption is 40 per cent lower than Lancet recommendations, which could due to the cost factor. But the report added that even the richest households in the study do not consume enough protein-rich foods, fruits, and vegetables.