August 14, 2026
In his Hindustan Times column, Vital Signs, OHT’s Dr. Ramanan Laxminarayan explores whether Indians need more meat in their diets, amid a debate over including eggs in school meals.
He writes that the bigger goal should be better nutrition, not simply more or less meat. Many Indians, particularly children from poorer households, do not get enough dietary variety. Eggs can provide important nutrients such as protein, iron, vitamin B12, and calcium, making them a useful option for school meals where they are affordable and culturally acceptable.
At the same time, eating less red meat can benefit the environment because livestock production uses large amounts of land and water and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and antibiotic resistance.
Rather than imposing restrictions on what people eat, Dr. Laxminarayan calls for making nutritious foods such as beans, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and eggs more accessible while respecting cultural and personal choices.
Read the article here.
