Indian Medical Students’ Lunch Plates Fall Short of Nutrition Standards!

The initial findings from the Medical Students’ Eating and Nutrition Assessment Project (MENAP) have been made public by the Physicians Association for Nutrition (PAN India), providing the first indication of how well Indian medical students are eating during their hectic college years. Although this early pilot was a small, volunteer-driven exploratory effort and has not yet received ethical approval, it offers crucial insights into the food environments that future doctors shall encounter.

In its fully authorised MENAP 2.0 phase, MENAP intends to expand into a large, nationwide nutrition study involving more than 100 medical colleges (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
PAN India releases preliminary report from national medical student nutrition survey

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India’s Future Doctors May Not Be Eating Right

Lunch plates from 42 medical students at 15 government and private medical colleges were examined as part of this feasibility study. The results show a clear pattern:

• 0% of meals met the ICMR–NIN Balanced Plate Standard (2020/2024)
• 68% of plates partially met the standards
• 32% did not meet minimum nutritional adequacy

Most plates had enough calories to fill the stomach but not enough nutrients to support long hours of study, concentration, hospital duties, and overall health.

A major concern was the consistent lack of vegetables, often the most neglected part of the Indian diet. Even hydration and protein intake were only partially met.

Ultra-Processed Foods Crowd Out Healthy Choices

More than 60% of plates contained ultra-processed foods—items such as:

• fried snacks
• papad
• sweets

These foods don't provide fibre, vitamins, or minerals, but they do add extra calories. Additionally, they replace healthier options that ought to be included in a well-balanced meal.

The most striking finding was that every plate examined had no whole grains at all. This implies that students consume a lot of refined wheat products and polished rice, which could lead to long-term metabolic problems.

A Mirror for Medical Colleges

The patterns were noteworthy enough to raise concerns, despite the pilot study's small size and lack of national representation.

The results serve as a "mirror" for healthcare facilities, according to Dr Rajeena Shahin, Medical Director of PAN India.

Although medical schools are supposed to set an example of healthy behaviour, it's possible that their own canteens and dorms aren't serving enough wholesome food.

The report warns that unbalanced, low-nutrient meals can affect:

• physical energy
• focus and concentration
• memory and cognitive ability
• long-term metabolic health

For students training to become doctors, these factors are vital.

What Can Medical Colleges Do For Healthy Eating?

The MENAP pilot highlights three key areas where Indian medical colleges can take immediate action:

1. Make Healthy Food the Easy, Default Choice
   Colleges can create environments where balanced meals are easier to access than deep-fried or refined option
2. Build Nutrition Education into the Curriculum
   Future doctors should not only learn clinical medicine but also understand practical, everyday nutrition—knowledge they will eventually pass on to their patients.
3. Strengthen Institutional Accountability
   Canteen menus, hostel kitchens, and vendor policies should follow national nutrition guidelines to ensure consistency and quality.

PAN India is preparing to scale the study in collaboration with academic bodies, councils, and student networks as part of MENAP 2.0, which will deliver stronger, nationally representative insights.

Early Warning Signs, and a Chance to Course-Correct

These results provide an early warning that India's future physicians might not be getting the nutritional support they require during their training years, even though they are not conclusive.

Enhancing campus food environments is an investment in the health, education, and future leadership of healthcare professionals, not just a dietary concern.

The upcoming, ethically approved MENAP 2.0 study will provide the full results, but the pilot's message is already evident:

Healthy campuses create healthier doctors and, ultimately, a healthier nation! Reference:

1. PAN India releases preliminary report from national medical student nutrition survey - (https://medicircle.in/pan-india-releases-preliminary-report-from-national-medical-student-nutrition-survey/)

Source-PAN India