Food Consumption Pattern and Dietary Adequacy Among Bhils of Udaipur (Rajasthan)

Food consumption pattern and dietary adequacy among Bhils of Udaipur (Rajasthan) Shweta Joshi1 and Vishakha Singh2 1Research Scholar, Department of Foods& Nutrition, College of Home Science, GB Pant University of Agriculture& Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India, Postal code- 263145, email shweta29joshi@gail. com 2Assistant Professor, Department of Foods& Nutrition, College of Home Science, MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, Postal code- 313001, email vishakha_singh@yahoo. com The Bhils commonly known as the desert dwellers are the largest tribal group in the Aravali belt of Rajasthan. This is the third largest tribal group of Indian sub-continent. The tribal populations are at risk of under nutrition because of their dependence on primitive agricultural practices, and uncertainty of food supply. Total 100 families of Bhil tribe of Jhadol and Girwa panchayat samiti in Udaipur district of Rajasthan were interviewed through 24 hour recall method of diet survey to assess the food and nutrient intakes of all the individuals who had partaken the meals on that day combined with food frequency questionnaire. Gap between the mean intake and the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) value for nutrients like energy (1642 kcal/d in Jhadol and 1623/d kcal in Girwa), calcium (475 mg/d in Jhadol and 362.3mg/d in Girwa), iron (12.5mg/d in Jhadol and 12.9mg/d in Girwa), -carotene (2782.4 mcg/d in Jhadol and 1612.4 mcg/d in Girwa), folate (6.29 mcg/d in Jhadol and 8.4 mcg/d in Girwa) and fat (17.2g/d in Jhadol), was high while their diets were found secured regarding intake of protein (58g/d in Jhadol and 59g/d in Girwa), fat (23.2g/d in Girwa), carbohydrate (317g/d in Jhadol and 280g/d in Girwa), ascorbic acid (66mg/d in Jhadol and 65.1mg/d in Girwa) and zinc (9.8mg/d in Jhadol and 10.4mg/d in Girwa). Diet of Bhils was found grossly inadequate in pulses, other vegetables, fats& oils and fruits, where as gap between the mean intake and the RDA value for nutrients was found high except protein, carbohydrate, ascorbic acid and zinc.