Exploring the Complexity of the Food Environment in India to Understand Healthy and Unhealthy Food

The chapter tries to study the perception of Indian people about food. The aim was to investigate what people consider as healthy and unhealthy food, how people visualise a healthier future, and what challenges must be overcome. The research methodology used to carry out the study was a multi-method qualitative approach that used photovoice and in-depth interviews to collect the data. Two Indian metro cities were chosen for this Jaipur (North) and Mumbai (West). The study identified four major factors influencing eating habits in India. The first factor is weather conditions which are an important determinant of the choices made by Indian people regarding what they consider healthy or unhealthy depending on the season, temperature, time of the day and place. The second factor is the misrepresentation of India as a vegetarian nation due to the association of religion with dietary habits, which is not true. The third factor is that Indian people prioritise taste before health despite their awareness of the health issues that spicy, sweet, and oily food consumption can cause. The fourth factor is that as Indians become wealthy, they can afford unhealthy food, which leads to obesity and health-related problems. Looking at the future and growing population, India will face challenges of food security and a rise in the number of food-related health issues; therefore Indian government should implement various policies and programmes that are targeted towards tackling these issues and building a healthier India.