[3] FROM MEDIEVAL FEASTS TO MODERN TRENDS: A CREATIVE LOOK AT HISTORICAL CHANGES IN FOOD CONSUMPTION IN INDIA

ARTICLE INFO- Date of Submission: July 09, 2024, Revised: July 21,2024, Accepted: July 28, 2024, https://doi.org/10.56815/IJMRR.V3I3.2024/25-33

Abstract

Food consumption in India has evolved dramatically over the years, affected by cultural, religious, economic, and technical reasons. Ancient Indian meals were predominantly vegetarian, based on agricultural products such as grains, pulses, fruits, and vegetables, with dairy playing an important part. The arrival of the Mughals in the 16th century brought rich, diversified cuisines with meat, exotic spices, and new cooking techniques, resulting in the fusion of Persian and Indian culinary traditions. The colonial period brought about additional changes as European influences introduced new foods and eating habits, like tea, coffee, and refined sugar, which became staples of Indian diets. The Green Revolution of the mid-twentieth century greatly revolutionized food production, increasing the availability of staple grains such as wheat and rice and shifting conventional consumption patterns. In recent decades, globalization and urbanization have resulted in a more diversified diet, with increased consumption of processed and fast meals in addition to traditional diets. There is also an increasing trend toward health-conscious eating, with an increased interest in organic foods and plant-based diets. Understanding the historical changes in food consumption in India illustrates the complicated interaction of tradition and modernity, as well as the current issues of maintaining food security and sustainability.