ISBN: 978-93-94174-16_0

Nutrition for Two: Daily Dietary Intake of Major Food Groups among Pregnant Women in Kashmir as per ICMR Recommendations

Sr Assistant Professor (Specialization Food Science & Nutrition, Institute of Home Science, University of Kashmir, J&K, India

Maternal nutrition plays a fundamental role in ensuring healthy pregnancy outcomes and supporting optimal fetal growth and development. The present study was undertaken to assess the daily intake of eight major food groups among pregnant women in the Kashmir Valley and to compare their consumption patterns with the recommended dietary allowances prescribed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR, 2010). The study was conducted among 400 pregnant women attending the Maternity Hospital of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, Srinagar. Women in their second trimester were selected using a systematic random sampling approach. Primary data were collected using a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire, interview schedule, 24-hour dietary recall, and Food Frequency Questionnaire. Dietary intake was assessed against the suggested daily intake for cereals, edible fats and oils, sugar, milk and milk products, pulses/legumes/nuts, flesh foods/eggs, fruits, and vegetables. The findings showed that cereals, edible fats and oils, and milk were consumed daily by all respondents, while fruits and vegetables were consumed by 95.75% and 93.5%, respectively. Mean intake exceeded the recommended level for edible fats and oils and flesh foods, whereas intake of cereals, sugar, milk and milk products, pulses, fruits, and vegetables remained below the suggested levels. Vegetable consumption showed the greatest deficit, achieving only 28.19% of the suggested daily intake. Overall, the findings indicate substantial gaps in dietary adequacy among pregnant women and highlight the need for targeted nutrition education and dietary interventions during pregnancy.

*Corresponding author; e-mail: nisargazala@gmail.com

Cite this Chapter: Gazala Nisar. 2026. Nutrition for Two: Daily Dietary Intake of Major Food Groups among Pregnant Women in Kashmir as per ICMR Recommendations. In: M. Kannan and Bhuvaneswari Rajagopal (Eds.), Advances in Aquatic Nutraceutical and Drugs. Excellent Publishers, India. pp. 147-153. doi: https://doi.org/10.20546/978-93-94174-16-0_11