author(s)
Dr. Neeta Khare

abstract
The study aimed to assess the consumption pattern of rice among selected farm women belonging to Chhattisgarh state. A well-structured questionnaire was formulated and used to elicit the information from 120 respondents. The poor socio-economic conditions were found to have a significant effect on the health and nutritional status of the respondents which was also associated with poor intake of nutritious food such as vegetables, fruits, pulses, milk and milk products. Hence, nutrition education programs was imparted to create awareness and increase the consumption of micronutrient rich, low cost green leafy vegetables to improve nutrient intake and for better health. Health and nutrition are the most important contributory factors for human resources development in the country. The calorie intake through rice was studied among different family sizes. A sample of 120 respondents was selected from two villages Chatoud and Tarra of Raipur district. Study revealed that rice is the staple food and preferred over any other cereals. The pattern of food consumption was almost same in all the families of various groups. The consumption of rice and vegetables was higher than the minimum. Oil was used in small amounts. People mostly used rice, wheat and vegetables (leafy and other) in their diet. The study revealed that dietary pattern of rural household mainly rice based (80%). Intakes of other nutrients like pulses, tuber crop, were very low than the required norms. The variation in calorie intake by the farmers in both the villages was found to differ insignificantly in different groups whereas it was found significant at 5% level in different family size. Although, more than 80% of the diet consists of rice but prevailing common practice of draining excess water from rice during after boiling results in loss of water soluble vitamins and minerals from rice. It results wastage of water-soluble vitamins and minerals from rice.