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Assignment 1

The passage discusses the evolution of food consumption habits in India, highlighting the shift from a biodiverse, health-oriented indigenous diet to a market-driven, commodified approach. It emphasizes the importance of seasonal and local foods in traditional diets, which are now being overshadowed by processed and mass-produced options. The text advocates for a return to plant-based diets that align with local ecologies for better health and environmental sustainability.

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41 views2 pages

Assignment 1

The passage discusses the evolution of food consumption habits in India, highlighting the shift from a biodiverse, health-oriented indigenous diet to a market-driven, commodified approach. It emphasizes the importance of seasonal and local foods in traditional diets, which are now being overshadowed by processed and mass-produced options. The text advocates for a return to plant-based diets that align with local ecologies for better health and environmental sustainability.

Uploaded by

parsonalwork402
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Q.5.

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (12 Marks)

Speaking of the best diets, we must first distinguish between the earlier food consumption habits
of India and the way these have changed now. We should actually celebrate how our food
consumption habits used to be - India's dietary patterns have shown that food was connected to
the local eco system. It was ecologically diverse - every part of India celebrated its biodiversity
through its food culture. The traditional Indian food habit was possibly the most bio diverse diet
of the world. Of course, other diets were similar before they were turned into monoculture diets
where everyone eats, rice, wheat and a hamburger. But Indian diets were truly remarkable in how
they optimized biodiversity and local ecologies. Individual health, local foods and seasonal factors
all came together in our diet. This was intuitive in terms of what works for you because of the
environment in which you live. And it was intuitive about your local ecology and the plants and
foods grown around you.
The indigenous Indian diet understood that food, built into your day-to-day lives, is one of the
most powerful forms of medicine we have. But these systems of belief and practice were
disrupted by force of the market. From being a medicine which strengthened us, food has become
a marketable commodity now. What you eat at home or learn from your local cuisine is changing
because now you are designing your diet based on aspiration, based on what others eat, on what
is supposed to be modern and what is easily available - this transmutation is happening because
of the power of markets, food companies and food commodification.
Once you were taught about hot foods, cold foods and foods you must eat seasonally. Now, of
course, there is nothing called a season because you can get the same food across the whole year.
But there was a scientific reason to eat something in a particular season - this was for the
goodness food gave you at that time of year. You don't eat dry fruits in summer, for instance.
These are traditionally eaten in winter because of the warmth they give you in colder months.
This science of food, interwoven into the art of diet, is something we grew up with. But we are
discounting such indigenous knowledge now because of the signals we get from the outside
world, which teaches you that food must be packaged, it must look good (even though it may not
be good for you) and it must be addictive.

Food has also come to mean overindulgence - the meat industry now produces unbelievable
amounts and does so using a number of chemicals and destroying vast forests. Further, people are
now eating so much meat, is seriously damaging their health. Both our bodies and our
environment need us to return to indigenous diets and plant base choices, which are much
healthier for us. These will empower us to feed more people from a less degraded earth.
Source - Times of India, 09 Jan 2021
1 Food consumption habits in India over the years (1)
a) have changed for the better
b) have changed for the worse
c) have changed without any impact
d) have changed very little
2. The one important feature of food consumption habits in the past was that they (1)
a) were consistent with biodiversity

b) were cheap but not nutritious


c) included many processed food items
d) had a high meat content
3.Which of the following features is absent in Indian diets? (1)
a) individual factors

b) local foods
c) seasonal factors
d) high consumption of processed foods
4. Original indigenous Indian diet had (1)
a) a delicious taste
b) fried items

c) a medicinal effect

d)mostly boiled items

5. One major factor that considerably changed the food consumption habits is (1)
a) scientific development
b) force of market
c) western influence

d) change of public taste


6. What is the significance of "The Indigenous Indian Diet"? (2)
7. How does India celebrate its biodiversity through its food culture? (2)
8. "Food has become a marketable commodity now." Do you agree? Why /Why not? (2)
9. Effect of seasons on our food consumption habits is nullified as (1)

a) climatic pattern has been disturbed


b) most items are available throughout the year
c) good rains produce good crops
d) drought conditions prevail in some parts

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