The Cost of Healthy Eating in India and Why Millions Still Cannot Afford Nutritious Diets

India’s nutrition crisis is driven not by food scarcity but by the high cost of healthy diets, leaving over half the population unable to afford diverse, nutrient-rich foods while ultra-processed foods become cheaper and more common. Addressing this requires reshaping food systems, subsidies and food environments so that nutritious diets become affordable, equitable and sustainable for all.

India’s nutrition crisis today is not driven by a lack of food, but by the growing difficulty of affording truly healthy diets. Drawing on research and analysis from UNICEF India, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO), national data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, and academic work from institutions such as Lady Irwin College, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and the Tata–Cornell Institute, this UNICEF Nutrition Brief examines how food prices, incomes, policies and food environments shape what Indians eat. The evidence shows a troubling disconnect between economic progress and diet quality, with serious consequences for health and development.

Healthy Diets Are Out of Reach for Millions

A healthy diet is defined as one that is diverse and nutrient-rich, including fruits, vegetables, pulses, nuts, seeds, dairy, whole grains and appropriate amounts of animal-source foods, while limiting excess sugar, salt and unhealthy fats. These principles apply across regions and life stages, even though food choices vary culturally. Yet in India, more than half the population, around 790 million people, cannot afford such a diet. This means that even when food is available in markets, household incomes and rising prices prevent families from buying the foods needed for good nutrition. This unaffordability is now one of the biggest barriers to achieving India’s national nutrition goals and its global commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals.

From Traditional Diets to Processed Foods

India’s dietary patterns have changed rapidly over the past few decades. Traditionally, many Indian diets combined cereals with pulses, vegetables, fruits and dairy, offering balance and diversity. Today, diets are increasingly dominated by rice and wheat, with limited intake of nutrient-rich foods. Public policies have played a role: subsidies and procurement systems have long prioritised staple grains, making them cheap and reliable, while pulses, millets, fruits and vegetables remain more expensive or less consistently available. At the same time, ultra-processed foods, packaged snacks, sugary drinks and ready-to-eat meals, have expanded sharply. These foods are cheap, convenient and heavily marketed, making them attractive to busy households despite their poor nutritional quality.

The Triple Burden of Malnutrition

The result of these shifts is the coexistence of multiple forms of malnutrition. Undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies remain widespread, particularly among children, women and poorer households, with high levels of deficiencies in iron, vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin D and other essential nutrients. At the same time, overweight, obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes and heart disease are rising, especially in urban and higher-income groups. This “triple burden of malnutrition” places heavy strain on health systems, reduces productivity and increases long-term healthcare costs, threatening India’s economic and social development.

Why Affordability Is More Than Income

The brief stresses that affordability is not just about how much money households earn. Household surveys show that the share of spending on food has declined on average, but this hides deep inequalities. Many families spend far less than what is required for a nutritious diet, and increasing food spending by 10 to 50 percent, often needed to meet dietary recommendations, is simply not possible for them. There are also hidden costs. Nutritious meals often require more time to shop for and prepare, a burden that falls mainly on women. In rural or remote areas, an irregular supply of fresh foods raises costs further. Social norms matter too: women and girls may eat last or least within households, reducing their access to nutritious foods even when these are affordable at the household level.

Making Healthy Diets Affordable Is Possible

Despite the challenges, the brief shows that healthier diets are achievable. Studies demonstrate that households can improve diet quality without spending more by shifting consumption away from refined cereals and sugary foods toward pulses, millets and vegetables. Public actions already play a role, including food fortification, supplementation programmes and efforts to introduce millets and pulses into public distribution systems and school meals. However, important gaps remain in understanding real-world constraints such as time pressures, gender dynamics and food preferences.

The way forward requires coordinated action across agriculture, food systems, social protection, health and education. By realigning subsidies, improving food supply chains, promoting healthier food environments and prioritising the most vulnerable populations, India can make nutritious diets more affordable and equitable. Doing so would deliver long-term benefits in health, productivity and sustainable development, turning nutrition into a cornerstone of inclusive growth rather than a persistent challenge.