Most households include all generations of a family from great-grandparents to a new- born baby.
When a daughter gets married she will move into the household of her husband, and when a son is
married his wife will move into his household with his parents and grandparents. Most couples tend to
have an average of three children. Indians diets are based around a staple grain, such as rice or wheat,
served with vegetables and yogurt. Ninety-three percent of daily intake of food in India consists of
vegetable products and only 7 percent consists of animal products. Vegetables eaten are those that are
currently in season. The most commonly eaten meat is fish, while lamb, goat, beef, chicken, shark,
lobster, and shrimp are also occasionally eaten too. Animal products are not a staple part of the Indian
diet because they require refrigeration, and over 80 percent of Indians are Hindu, and the Hindu culture
does not allow them to consume beef. Food is usually bought the same day it is eaten. Although most
Indian’s are vegetarians, animals are very important to farmers. They not only provide milk, they also
serve as their work force for plowing land and hauling crops.