How many food groups are suggested by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)?

Appeared in: CIP Ranchi 2023

Explanation

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) recommend a five-food group system for planning a balanced diet.
This system is designed to be a practical tool for the public to ensure a nutritionally adequate intake.
The five groups are: 1) Cereals, Grains & Products; 2) Pulses & Legumes; 3) Milk & Meat Products; 4) Fruits & Vegetables; and 5) Fats & Sugars.
Including foods from each of these five groups daily helps in achieving a balanced intake of macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals).

Option A: The number 3 refers to the functional classification of foods, not the basic food groups.
Option B: This is an incorrect number for the ICMR classification. Some international dietary models, like Canada's Food Guide, have historically used four groups, but this is not the standard in India.
Option D: This is an incorrect number for the basic ICMR food group model.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain ICMR Food Groups Classification as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses use the five-food group model to provide simple and effective dietary counseling to patients and communities, promoting health and preventing malnutrition.
This framework is crucial for planning therapeutic diets for patients with conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or obesity, ensuring nutritional needs are met while managing the disease.
What if? If a patient is a strict vegetarian (vegan), the nurse would advise on plant-based alternatives for Group 3 (Milk & Meat). This includes fortified soy milk, tofu, and a careful combination of pulses and cereals to ensure complete protein intake, along with B12 supplementation.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core of the question: It asks for a specific number based on guidelines from a named authority (ICMR).
Recognize this as a factual recall question related to community health and nutrition in the Indian context.
Access your knowledge of basic nutritional classifications taught in nursing.
Differentiate between the number of basic food groups (which is 5) and the number of functional food classifications (which is 3).
Eliminate the options that do not match the standard ICMR model.
Select the option that correctly states the number of basic food groups recommended by ICMR.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 79-81

E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health NursingShyamala D part 1 (pp 26-389 of 389) p. 198-200

Practise the full CIP Ranchi 2023

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.