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As members of the Indian Army, soldiers are expected to be in top physical condition at all times. Maintaining this level of fitness requires a healthy and well-balanced diet, and the Indian Army takes great care to ensure that its soldiers are properly nourished. But what does this diet actually consist of? In this article, we'll take a closer look at the diet of an Indian Army soldier and explore the various foods and nutrients that make up their daily meals. From breakfast to dinner, we'll delve into the details of what keeps these brave men and women fueled and ready to face whatever challenges come their way.
All meals and dishes that are served at the langar are done so on the basis of a ration system. The regiment determines the exactness of the food served; food served on bases is prepared by army cooks in the langar using fresh rations issued for the week; members stationed on the front lines or in inclement weather consume MREs (Meal Ready to Eat), which may consist of ‘re-heatable’ or canned food. Lunch is the main meal of the day and typically consists of rice, lentils, and vegetables. Meat is also sometimes included in the form of chicken or mutton. Dinner is similar to lunch and may also include soup or yogurt. The food that is served as a part of each meal is meant to optimize the performance of the soldier throughout the day while maintaining a surplus for recovery.
The first meal of the day is breakfast, which is almost always a calorie-dense food like puri and aloo sabji. The same meal served on the field may include additional elements such as spiced potato chips and egg gravy.
Lunch sees the service of a carb-heavy meal that centers around rice or roti, accompanied by simple vegetarian or non-vegetarian dishes, depending on season and availability. Lunch that is consumed by soldiers on the front lines may be in the form of MREs, which contain similar food that is packaged in vacuum-sealed pouches and heated with a portable stove that is included with the kit. The meal included in the kit consists of simple preparations such as pulao, aloo matar bhaji, sooji halwa, et al. The kit may also contain portable snacks such as soft proteins or chikki bars. MREs are designed to be lightweight and easy to carry in the field, packed in lightweight, durable packaging that can be easily transported in a backpack or rucksack.
Lunch may be sometimes followed by an evening tea break, a hurried affair that sees officers consuming nothing but glasses of strong tea. The last meal of the day is dinner, which features a heavy protein-rich meal in the form of a paneer or meat preparation that is served with rice and rotis. The protein is always in the form of a fat-rich gravy that is incredibly high in calories, so as to enhance recovery. Kheer and pickle are also served on certain days, depending on ingredient availability and mess rations. Dinner is often accompanied by a ration of locally made alcohol, such as rum. Officers and soldiers may also buy alcohol from the mess at a subsidized rate.
The Indian Army places a strong emphasis on the importance of hydration, and soldiers are encouraged to drink plenty of water throughout the day. They are also provided with electrolyte drinks to help replenish lost fluids and minerals.
The army kitchens serve special meals during festivals or special events. National holidays such as Independence Day and Republic Day see the whole base gather for a special meal called "badekhana", which consists of rich courses of a celebratory nature.
The timing of the meals varies depending on the soldiers' availability and the regiment they belong to. Most soldiers on the field will help the chefs on duty prepare the food, which can be a hurried affair since these meals may have to be transported to remote outposts via helicopter. Terrain that is inaccessible by air is covered by operations that are handled by the army’s IASC corps, using a variety of transport mediums ranging from camels to off-road vehicles.
The dining areas for soldiers and officers are separate, except for festive or ceremonial days. The food served in all canteens is the same, though rations may vary based on rank. Officers are also entitled to dry rations, such as pulses, rice, and legumes, that are allocated based on rank and the size of the officer’s family.
The food served isn't structured around nutrition alone; the Indian Army also takes into account the cultural and religious beliefs of its soldiers, going to great lengths to ensure that the meals served have options for members with strict dietary restrictions. This attention to detail and care for the well-being of its soldiers is just one of the many ways in which the Indian Army works to maintain the highest standards throughout its functioning, ready to take on any threat to the safety of the country.
