Food habits in India can change with geographical locations, cultural practices, religious alignment & spiritual beliefs.
While food patterns may be varied within the country, however the commonality is in their dietary & nutritional compatibility with Indian biological & digestive system.
India has a visible and unique divide between Vegetarian & Non-vegetarian food. The number of food permutations & combinations which can be seen in India is a case study in itself. Some people eat non-vegetarian food except for Tuesdays or Thursdays, some eat only egg, some only fish, some do not eat onions & garlic, some do fasting on certain days etc etc.
Variations in food habits could be a sign of cultural diversity & rich heritage, however most foods preparations are eventually dependent upon local produce & influenced by traditional eating habits.
The past 4 decades has witnessed many Indians migrating to other countries yet their food habits have mostly remained unchanged. The reason for preferring to eat Indian food in a foreign land may be a subject for anthropologists however in my opinion it is more to do with our customs and digestibility.
As more Indian people are getting older in their adopted countries, quite a few of them are entering residential care homes for the elderly.
One important area of discomfort amongst the elders is the food served in the aged care homes. Since most Indians are not comfortable eating continental, Italian or other western diets on a daily basis hence they prefer to stick with their staple Indian diet.
The larger point of debate is, in a country like India how much importance do we give to food & nutrition in Senior Citizen Care Homes?
Typically in western and northern India, Senior Citizen Homes serve vegetarian food while states like West Bengal, Kerala, Odisha serve fish, poultry & other meats as part of the weekly menu.
Though the resource document “Dietary Guidelines for Indians” by National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, has covered the nutritional needs for Indians however it is more focused on the adolescent & younger population.
For senior care sector to grow in India, it is important that national level guidelines on food & nutrition for older people should be published for the larger cause.
Resource guide “Food and Nutrition in Care Homes for Older People – Best Practice Guidance” by Welsh Government, is a well drafted training material which can help care home operators in developing their own standards and guidelines.
If we want our elders to live a happy and healthy life, it is important that as a country we start taking Elderly Care on a serious note.
Document can be accessed on the website https://www.gov.wales/ or downloaded here (Food & Nutrition in Elderly Care Homes) or can be read below