Source: IE
Context: The 2022-23 Household Consumption Expenditure Survey highlights some surprising dietary trends in India, emphasizing vegetable, fruit, pulse, and milk consumption.
Key findings:
- Food Expenditure Snapshot: Rural India spends more per capita on milk than on vegetables, fruits, and pulses. Urban areas also prioritize milk over these items.
- Regional Insights: Rajasthan’s “vegetarian” tag contrasts with lower spending on vegetables, fruits, and pulses. Northeastern states show higher vegetable consumption than Gujarat ( despite having a significant Vaishnav-Jain population)
- Milk Priority: Milk consumption is high, even in states with lower expenditure on vegetables, fruits, and pulses. North, West, and Central Indian states spend more on milk than on eggs, fish, and meat.
- Non-Vegetarian Trend: Kerala, Goa, West Bengal, Northeastern, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh prioritize expenditure on eggs, fish, and meat over milk.
- In India, vegetarianism typically includes dairy but not necessarily veganism.
Key terms:
- Vegetarians abstain from meat but consume animal products like dairy and eggs.
- Vegans avoid all animal products, including dairy, eggs, and honey, relying solely on plant-based foods.
- Non-vegetarians include meat, poultry, seafood, and sometimes dairy and eggs in their diets.
Usage: The data/Examples can be used in Indian Society/ Sociology/ Essay related Questions on food diversity.
