Speaking of the best diets, we must first distinguish between the earlier food consumption habits of India and the way these have changed now. We should actually celebrate how our food consumption habits used to be – India‘s dietary patterns have shown that food was connected to the local eco system. It was ecologically diverse – every part of India celebrated its biodiversity through its food culture. The traditional Indian food habit was possibly the most bio diverse diet of the world. Of course, other diets were similar before they were turned into monoculture diets where everyone eats, rice, wheat and a hamburger. But Indian diets were truly remarkable in how they optimized biodiversity and local ecologies. Individual health, local foods and seasonal factors all came together in our diet. This was intuitive in terms of what works for you because of the environment in which you live. And it was intuitive about your local ecology and the plants and foods grown around you.The indigenous Indian diet understood that food, built into your day-to-day lives, is one of the most powerful forms of medicine we have. But these systems of belief and practice were disrupted by force of the market. From being a medicine which strengthened us, food has become a marketable commodity now. What you eat at home or learn from your local cuisine is changing because now you are designing your diet based on aspiration, based on what others eat, on what is supposed to be modern and what is easily available – this transmutation is happening because of the power of markets, food companies and food commodification.Once you were taught about hot foods, cold foods and foods you must eat seasonally. Now, of course, there is nothing called a season because you can get the same food across the whole year. But there was a scientific reason to eat something in a particular season – this was for the goodness food gave you at that time of year. You don‘t eat dry fruits in summer, for instance. These are traditionally eaten in winter because of the warmth they give you in colder months.This science of food, interwoven into the art of diet, is something we grew up with. But we are discounting such indigenous knowledge now because of the signals we get from the outside world, which teaches you that food must be packaged, it must look good (even though it may not be good for you) and it must be addictive.Food has also come to mean overindulgence – the meat industry now produces unbelievable amounts and does so using a number of chemicals and destroying vast forests. Further, people are now eating so much meat, it is seriously damaging their health. Both our bodies and our environment need us to return to indigenous diets and plant base choices, which are much healthier for us. These will empower us to feed more people from a less degraded earth.Source – Times of India, 09 Jan 2021Now, on the basis of your reading of the above passage, choose the best answer to each of the following questions:1. Food consumption habits in India over the years a) have changed for the better b) have changed for the worse c) have changed without any impact d) have changed very little2. The one important feature of food consumption habits in the past was that they a) were consistent with biodiversity b)were cheap but not nutritious c) included many processed food items d) had a high meat content3. Which of the following features is absent in Indian diets? a) individual factors b) local foods c) seasonal factors d) high consumption of processed foods4. Original indigenous Indian diet had a) a delicious taste b) fried items c) a medicinal effect d)mostly boiled items5. One major factor that considerably changed the food consumption habits is a) scientific developmentb) force of market c) western influence d) change of public taste6. What we eat now is influenced by a) food habits of others b) what is believed to be modern c) what is easily available d) all these7. Effect of seasons on our food consumption habits is nullified as a) climatic pattern has been disturbed b) most items are available throughout the year c) good rains produce good crops d) drought conditions prevail in some parts8. Market forces setting the current trend are promoting a) homemade food b) only meat items c) organic food d) attractively packaged processed food9. Match the words in first column with those in second columnAIndigenous1.Style of cookingBIntuitive2.Native to or produced in this countryCCuisine3.Based on what one feels to be truea) A 1 B 2 C 3 b) A 2 B 3 C 1 c) A 3 B 1 C2 d) A 3 B 2 C 210.