Pulses and Legume Consumption - Situational Analysis

Pulses are termed as a poor mans meat as they have twice the quantity of proteins than whole grains, like rice, wheat, oats and barely. Pulses are rich in lysine while cereals are rich in methionine, a combination of both can give protein equivalent to animal protein, therefore if taken in required quantities can reduce malnutrition- under nutrition. A study is therefore conducted to assess the consumption pattern of pulses and cereals Two hundred and forty adults from Hyderabad were randomly selected from the middle-income group. A semi structured questionnaire was constructed to assess demographic profile and the frequency of pulse consumption. In a sub group of 50 families, per capita daily intake of pulses and cereals, and existing beliefs are collected. Nuclear families constituted 86.7 percent and families with 3 to 5 members 82.1 percent. Education level indicated graduates, post graduates and professionals together constituted 91.7 percent among males and 58 percent among females. None of them are illiterate. Pulses are consumed along with cereals or with a cereal combination. Selection of pulse depended on the region, availability and accessibility. Pulses consumed are red gram dhal, bengal gram dhal and whole, black gram dhal and whole, green gram dhal and whole, lentils, cowpea, rajmah, soy bean and horse gram in varying frequencies and quantities. At least one type of pulse is included in the daily diet, either for breakfast, lunch, dinner or as a snack but the per consumption unit/day figures are only 33.3 grams per day as against the RDA of 60 grams, meeting only 55 percent of requirements, even the production of pulses indicate a shortage of production by 10 percent. In the case of cereal consumption, also a similar trend exists, only 69.3 percent of RDA is metal though the production is more than the requirement -109.6 percent. The belief that some pulses are heat producing, gas producing, pus forming still exists in spite of them being educated and belonging to a higher income group.