Telangana Sees Increase in Calorie and Nutrient Intake in 2023-24
Telangana reports highest urban calorie intake in India for 2023-24. Fewer meals, but more calories, protein, and fat reveal changing food habits in the state. In an interesting shift, Telangana has reported a significant rise in per capita calorie, protein, and fat consumption even as the number of meals consumed monthly has slightly decreased. The latest data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation for 2023-24 highlights how food patterns in both urban and rural Telangana are evolving rapidly.
Urban now leads the nation with the highest daily calorie intake at 2,455 calories per person. Rural Telangana followed closely with an average of 2,367 calories per day second only to Bihar, which topped the rural chart with 2,461. These figures point toward an increasing nutritional density in meals, even as the frequency of meals slightly dipped from the previous year.
The ‘Nutritional Intake in India’ survey revealed that in 2023-24, people in rural Telangana consumed 86 meals per person over 30 days, while urban residents averaged 80 meals. This was a small drop from last year (87 in rural and 83 in urban), but still notably higher than the national average of 78 meals in rural and 75 in urban India.
More nutrients, more calories What’s driving Telangana’s food trends?
Alongside the calorie surge, protein intake in has also shown encouraging trends. Urban residents consumed an average of 67.3 grams of protein per day, well above the national average of 63.4 grams. In rural areas, the figure was 65 grams, exceeding the national rural average of 61.8 grams.
Interestingly, while cereals continue to be the major contributor, a growing share of protein now comes from animal-based sources. In rural Telangana, protein from meat, fish, and eggs rose to 19.8% in 2023-24 from 18.7% the previous year. However, urban regions saw a slight decline in this category—from 17.5% to 17%.
When it comes to fat intake, urban Telangana again outpaced the rest of India, with residents consuming 70 grams per day, compared to the national average. Rural Telangana logged 64.1 grams daily, also higher than the rural national average of 60.4 grams. These increases suggest a shift toward richer, more energy-dense diets in the state.
Despite changes in quantity and sources, rice remains a staple, contributing more than 43% of daily calories in urban areas. This reinforces the continuing reliance on traditional food items while blending in more nutrient-dense and high-protein ingredients.
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Conclusion:
Telangana’s evolving food consumption trends tell a compelling story. Even with a marginal drop in the number of meals, the increase in calories, proteins, and fats indicates a shift toward more nutritious and calorie-rich diets. Urban Telangana now leads the country in energy intake, while rural regions are not far behind. With food expenditure also slightly rising across both sectors, it’s clear that residents are choosing to invest more in what they eat, possibly reflecting rising awareness about nutrition and changing lifestyles.
