A detailed study of India’s meal patterns tells us that lunch (Protein:Fat:Carbs = 16:27:57) and dinner (P:F:C = 17:29:54) are the healthiest meals overall with respect to PFC balance. Percentage energy from protein is highest for dinner and percentage energy from fat is the lowest for lunch.
Evening snacks are the most fatty meal of the day.
They are also the meal with the highest sugar content in terms of % of the weight of food.
Fruit consumption is the highest during morning and evening snacks. Vegetable consumption is also seen to peak for lunch and dinner.
One primary reason for the above-mentioned meal patterns is unhealthy snacking is a large fraction of the urban population selecting high-fat instant snacks at work or on-the-go, due to busy schedules and a growing fast-food culture.
