Diets, Nutrition, and Poverty - The Oxford Topic of Food, Politics, and Society - page 330

Table 13.6 Fat Intake Distributions in Urban India, 1993 and 2004

Range of Fat Intake Per Capita Per Day (gms)

Year <25 26-40 41-60 >60 Total

1993 25.04 (18.2) 29.84 (32.3) 26.15 (48.6) 18.97 (80.2) 100 (42.1)

2004 15.39 (19.4) 31.02 (32.6) 31.56 (48.9) 22.04 (85.8) 100 (47.4)

Source : Authors' calculations based on the the 50th and 61st rounds of the NSS

Changes in Diets and Nutrition

Food composition and diet changed considerably in both rural and urban areas over the
period 1993-2004.10 Although there was some reduction in cereal intake, there were large
reductions in the intake of pulses/nuts/dry fruits too. In contrast, intakes of Vanaspati-oil,
eggs, and fruits rose. Because these are linked to intakes of calories, proteins, and fats
with varying importance, an investigation of how food consumption patterns changed in
response to changes in income and relative prices is necessary. We build on the DD analysis
(2009) of food commodities that contributed to reduction in calories, protein, and fats.

Calories

In rural India in 1993, cereals accounted for about 71% of total calorie intake, which
reduced to 68% in 2004. Calories from cereals recorded a significant reduction (from
1,530 calories to 1,383 calories). The contribution of vanaspati-oil rose moderately.
Altogether, calorie intake declined from 2,156 to 2,047 between 1993 and 2004.
In urban India, calorie intake declined from 2,074 in 1993 to 2,021 in 2004, a reduction
of about 3%, much of it due to reduction in cereal calories—from 1,213 to 1,133—a reduc-
tion of 7%. Among other calorie sources, milk/milk products/ghee/butter, Vanaspati-oil
and pulses/nuts/dryfruits/others contributed a slight increase.11 By contrast, the contri-
bution of sugar decreased.

Protein

In rural India, protein intake declined—from 60.3gm in 1993 to 55.8gm in 2004— that is,
by about 7%. Much of it is reflected in a reduction in protein intake from cereals. Intake
from other sources remained largely unchanged between 1993 and 2004. Similarly, aver-
age protein intake in urban India fell from 57.3gm in 1993 to 55.4gm in 2004, that is, by
about 3%, most of it due to a reduction in protein intake from cereals.