Despite being staples in dishes like sambar and rasam, pulse consumption remains low across southern states, contributing just 7–11% to total protein intake, highlighting a concerning dietary gap
Published Jul 01, 2025 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 01, 2025 | 8:00 AM
Synopsis: The “Nutritional Intake in India (2022–23 & 2023–24)” report reveals stark disparities in protein, fat, and calorie intake across southern states, highlighting that economic progress doesn’t guarantee better nutrition. Despite their relative prosperity, states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana show inconsistent protein consumption, with many regions still falling short of recommended dietary requirements
According to the latest “Nutritional Intake in India (2022-23 & 2023-24)” report, a complex picture emerges across India’s southern states, where economic development doesn’t always translate into optimal dietary outcomes.
The comprehensive national study highlights significant variations in protein consumption, fat intake, and calorie adequacy among Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana—states traditionally considered more prosperous than the national average.
Protein intake across southern India presents a mixed landscape, with consumption levels varying significantly both within and between states. The data shows that protein requirements remain inadequately met in several regions, despite these states’ relative economic prosperity.
At the all-India level protein intake has been a persistent concern, and the southern states reflect this broader challenge. Kerala emerges as the standout performer with the highest protein intake levels—73.9 grams per capita daily in rural areas by 2023-24, largely driven by the state’s exceptional reliance on fish and meat, which contributes nearly 40 percent of total protein consumption.
This coastal state’s dietary pattern is unique even by global standards, with its population deriving more protein from animal sources than most developed countries.
In contrast, other southern states show more moderate protein consumption. Tamil Nadu records 61.0 grams per capita in rural areas and 63.8 grams in urban areas, while Karnataka shows 61.4 grams rural and 64.6 grams urban. Andhra Pradesh maintains steady levels at 66.4 grams rural and 65.2 grams urban, while Telangana shows improvement from 62.7 to 65.0 grams in rural areas.
The protein source breakdown reveals cultural and geographical patterns. While Kerala dominates in fish and meat consumption, Tamil Nadu shows a more balanced protein portfolio with 18.1 percent from animal sources and 10.9 percent from pulses. Karnataka demonstrates the region’s most balanced approach, with relatively even distribution across protein sources including a robust 27 percent from “other foods” category, indicating dietary diversification.
Significantly, pulse consumption—traditionally central to South Indian cuisine through dishes like sambar and rasam—remains disappointingly low across all southern states, contributing only 7-11 percent of total protein intake.
Fat consumption patterns across southern India reflect both traditional cooking methods and economic prosperity, but also raise health concerns. The data reveals significant urban-rural disparities and notable variations between states.
Karnataka leads the region in fat intake with urban areas consuming 71.7 grams per capita daily, while rural areas consume 65.6 grams. Andhra Pradesh follows closely with 68.0 grams urban and 67.3 grams rural consumption. Tamil Nadu shows similar patterns with 68.5 grams urban and 62.4 grams rural intake.
Kerala presents an intriguing anomaly, despite its coastal location and fish-rich diet, it records the lowest fat intake in the region at just 56.0 grams in urban areas and 58.4 grams in rural areas. This pattern defies typical expectations and may reflect different cooking methods, health consciousness, or unique dietary traditions. The state also shows the smallest urban-rural gap in fat consumption, suggesting more uniform dietary patterns across geographic areas.
Telangana demonstrates significant improvement between 2022-23 and 2023-24, with urban fat intake rising from 66.9 to 70.0 grams, possibly reflecting the state’s economic growth following its formation in 2014.
The fat intake levels across southern states generally fall within moderate ranges compared to national extremes, avoiding both the very high consumption seen in states like Gujarat (89.3 grams urban) and the low intake levels of eastern tribal regions. This suggests relatively balanced traditional diets, though the trend toward higher consumption in urban areas warrants monitoring for potential health implications.
Calorie intake distribution reveals perhaps the most surprising findings about southern India’s nutritional landscape. While these states are generally perceived as more food-secure, the data shows concerning disparities and some unexpected patterns.
Kerala emerges as the region’s most challenging case for calorie adequacy. Despite its high human development indicators, 18.5 percent of rural households and 15.6 percent of urban households consume less than 80 percent of recommended calorie levels—indicating severe deficiency. This “Kerala Paradox” contradicts conventional wisdom about the relationship between development and food security, possibly reflecting high food prices due to land constraints, lifestyle changes, or income inequality despite overall prosperity.
In stark contrast, Telangana shows remarkable improvement and now leads the region in calorie security. The state reduced severe calorie deficiency from 10.4 percent to just 5.1 percent in rural areas and from 7.3 percent to 6.8 percent in urban areas between 2022-23 and 2023-24, representing one of the most dramatic improvements nationally.
Andhra Pradesh demonstrates consistent progress, reducing rural severe deficiency from 11.8 percent to 7.7 percent and urban deficiency from 11.8 percent to 9.2 percent. The state shows a healthy distribution across calorie categories, with about 35 percent of households achieving optimal intake levels.
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu present moderate challenges, with 13.3 percent and 13.6 percent of rural households respectively facing severe calorie deficiency in 2023-24. Both states show concerning increases from the previous year, suggesting emerging food security challenges despite economic growth.
The calorie distribution patterns also reveal consumption behaviors. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana show higher proportions of households with excess calorie consumption (≥120 percent of requirements), which might indicate either food abundance or feast-famine consumption cycles.
Placing southern India’s performance in national context reveals both achievements and areas requiring attention. While southern states generally outperform the national average in most nutritional indicators, they lag behind some unexpected leaders.
In protein consumption, Kerala’s 73.9 grams per capita places it among the top nationally, but it’s still overshadowed by states like West Bengal (64.4 grams) with higher fish consumption. The southern states’ moderate protein levels of 61-67 grams fall in the middle range nationally, with significant room for improvement compared to leading states.
Bihar emerges as an unexpected national leader in calorie security, with only 6.9 percent of rural households facing severe deficiency, also better than most southern states except Telangana. This suggests that economic development alone doesn’t guarantee nutritional outcomes, and effective food distribution systems may matter more than overall prosperity.
Haryana represents the most dramatic national success story, reducing rural severe calorie deficiency from 21.0 percent to just 4.8 percent, offering lessons for other states. Meanwhile, Jharkhand continues to struggle with 18.5 percent severe deficiency, and Uttar Pradesh’s large population makes its 15.0 percent deficiency rate particularly concerning for national food security.
The nutritional landscape across India reveals that while southern states benefit from higher development levels, they face unique challenges that require targeted interventions. Kerala’s high protein intake success could be a model for other coastal states, while its calorie security challenges demand investigation. Telangana’s rapid improvement demonstrates what’s possible with focused policy efforts.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
