Tracking nutrition and health status of Indians

City-based Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition has initiated ‘Mapping of nutrition and health status – A national level participatory real-time data generation programme’ to develop a mobile-based device to be used by nutrition researchers at district level nationwide during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Total energy intake from cereals contributed to 998 Kcal/day, while visible fats, and pulses and legumes contributed to 265 Kcal/day and 119 Kcal/day, respectively in urban areas. Food groups recommendations state not more than 45% of energy should be contributed by cereals and millets, whereas, actual contribution was 51% in urban region and 65.2% in rural region; while pulses, legumes, meat, poultry and fish contributed to mere 11% of the total energy per day in urban areas and rural areas, as against the recommended minimum intake level of 17% of total energy from these foods. Importantly, foods like chips, biscuits, chocolates, sweets, juices, etc., contributed to 11% energy intake per day in urban areas as compared to 4% in rural areas. Recommended intake daily is 45% of calorie/ energy intake from cereals and millets, 17% from pulses and flesh foods and 10% energy from milk and milk products for a 2000-calorie diet a day.