With malnutrition levels as bad as sub-Saharan African countries, a vegetarian diet is just an imposition for Indians
Indian cuisine is not a homogenous entity, and food habits differ along regional, religious, caste, and class lines. Yet there is an assumption in dominant discourses that India is a vegetarian nation. According to Dr Veena Shatrugna, former Director, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderbad, contrary to any such assumption, about 80 per cent of Indians consume meat. Except a few upper-castes, such as Brahmins and Vaishyas, the majority of Indian society has enjoyed meat historically.
During the 1950s and early 60s when scientists and nutritionists were formulating the RDA for the nation, the impetus was on including cereals and pulses as a source of not just calories, but also proteins. "One should note here that these experts were upper-caste Brahmins whose personal diet was vegetarian. In spite of scientific evidence that animal protein came closest to human tissue proteins, with an almost 100 per cent utilisation in the body (called Biological value), it was said that if cereal and pulses are eaten in a ratio of 4:1, in every meal, it will provide sufficient proteins. In fact the doctrine of “The Myth of Protein gap” was announced with much fanfare, justifying the decision to not include milk and other sources of animal proteins," says Shatrugna.
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