How a walk around a colony in South Delhi’s bustling life, gave a student a peek at how many of us make our food choices.
In an urban setting, what guides people's eating patterns and food choices? Age? Family dinners? Lifestyle? A walk around a South Delhi colony revealed how some people choose and consume their food.
I tried to ask why young people love junk food for snacks, rather than healthy options. “Fruits aren't snacks and they are pricey,” laughed R. Books or phone keep him company during meals. V admitted her preference for “burgers to bananas, any day.”
Ms. S, 40, copes with random meal times and sleep patterns, owing to her busy schedule at work. Mr. S and H, working executives, prefer to eat dinner with their families, often talking about how the day went. They can introduce their children to home-cooked traditional dishes. If given a choice, would they shift to a plant-based diet? "Not likely."
Urban food habits are mosaicked. Despite being aware of health and environmental benefits, culture prevents shifting to a plant-based diet. Can knowledge and attitude guide towards a better practice?
(Image contributed by the author)
Judge’s comment: Very well written and structured. Quotes are a good touch. Headline can be better. Photo is okay. But interviews and field visit are prominently featured.
This entry was submitted on 15th April 2025 and won the second prize in the Class 6–8 category of the Cub Reporters Contest. The contest invited budding journalists to take their passion for the environment to the next level—raising their voices on critical food-based environmental issues while gaining hands-on journalistic experience. Participants ventured into their local areas, investigated ongoing crises, and filed stories from the ground up. The best entries are published here to showcase their work.
Student of Class 6, Cambridge School, Srinivaspuri, New Delhi, Delhi
