ANNOUNCEMENTS
The aim of this research was to assess the dietary behavior and food consumption patterns of the indigenous people of Meghalaya, namely the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo tribes in the region. There have been centuries-old traditional methods of food systems and a culture that is rich and diverse in terms of its unique food cuisines and delicacies. The majority of the people in Meghalaya are non-vegetarians and rely on animal products for their main source of protein. The study has attempted to understand more about their food consumption behavior. Apart from the academic literature that was found while conducting the literature review for this study, it was found that this region in the north-east of India, particularly Meghalaya had lacked much evidence regarding their food systems and their traditional practices. Hence, this attempt was to study their dietary behavior, in order to gain insight into their food systems and understand their age-old food culture, while also relating it with modern day consumption patterns. A total of 89 participants had been sampled using the questionnaire survey method in four villages - Umshing-Mawkynroh, Nongpyndeng, Byrnihat and Nokgilawe, each belonging to a different district in the state. It was found that the predominant food cuisine was based around non-vegetarian dishes. More than 90% of the sampled participants were consumers of meat and relied on it as their primary source of protein. Organic farming was found to be popular among the locals even though very few people were pure vegetarians. Majority of the participants preferred processed foods over locally grown grains due to the increase of commercialization in recent decades. The general awareness regarding nutrition and caloric requirements were minimal, however it was found that people rarely suffered from lifestyle related diseases or eating disorders.
Keywords: dietary behavior, food consumption, Meghalaya, indigenous communities, traditional food practices.
