It's time we turn our attention to quality of food as well

Abstract

The last few decades have not witnessed much change in the dietary pattern in India except for marginal increase in fat intake. As per recommendation of the National Institute of Nutrition (Indian Council of Medical Research), Hyderabad, India, an individual is advised to consume food from at least 9 to 10 food groups per day to achieve diet with adequate micronutrients and quality protein and fat1. Dietary diversity ensures adequacy of essential amino acids, fatty acids and micronutrient for optimal physical and mental health. Recently, the United Nations-Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO) panel has reported that poor quality diet (lack of dietary diversity) is a greater threat to health than infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and measles, and eating nutrient-rich foods would result in savings of resources used in industrial food fortification2.