Tag: Indian food habits

While a common stereotype suggests India is a predominantly vegetarian nation, a BBC News report revealed that as of 2018, the majority of Indians are, in fact, meat-eaters. To truly understand what type of diet do Indians follow, one must explore the vast culinary landscape shaped by geography, religion, and modern lifestyle changes.

According to a 2014 report by the National Sample Survey Office, beef consumption is negligible in northern and central India, yet is culturally ingrained in states like Kerala and Goa. The idea that all Indians do not eat beef is a common misconception, overlooking the nation's immense diversity shaped by religion, region, and social customs.

While often stereotyped as a largely vegetarian nation, research reveals only about 20% of the Indian population is actually vegetarian, a number significantly lower than common claims. This figure is often inflated due to cultural pressures, with a distinction needing to be made between different types of vegetarian diets observed across the country.

According to the World Animal Foundation and other sources, over 40% of India's population identifies as vegetarian, a statistic that makes India home to the largest vegetarian community globally. However, to answer the question of what diet do most Indians follow, one must look beyond a simple vegetarian-non-vegetarian dichotomy and explore the country's immense regional, cultural, and economic diversity.