Diet quality in India is characterized by overall inadequate dietary diversity, despite high rates of consumption of vegetables, animal-source foods (mostly dairy), and whole grains. Action is needed to reduce reliance on starchy staples, to increase consumption of fruits, nuts and seeds in particular, and to moderate intakes of sweet foods and drinks, and packaged salty snacks.
A healthy diet helps promote health and prevent disease. It provides adequacy without excess of essential nutrients and avoids health-harming substances. Diet quality is
related to malnutrition in all its forms, including undernutrition and nutrient deficiencies, as well as diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Poor diets are estimated to be among the top of risk factors driving the global burden of disease. Understanding dietary patterns and trends in populations is the first step to inform actions to support and improve diet quality and track progress over time.