Food Security in South India: Workday vs. Non-Workday Variations

India persistently faces issues of hunger and malnutrition. Government measures primarily focus on improving food availability within households. However, dietary patterns are not constant. Not only do they fluctuate by cultivation seasons but also by workdays and non-workdays. The influence of the day of the week on nutrition has received limited scholarly attention. This article addresses this gap by providing an in-depth analysis of individuals’ nutrient intake in rural settings in Tamil Nadu. The study is based on a unique household survey data, covering 981 households across 33 villages and taking account of socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the population, including gender, caste and household economic activities. In contrast to studies conducted in the Western countries, the findings show that nutrient deficiencies are lower, and dietary quality is higher in the study area during non-workdays compared to workdays. This effect is more pronounced for women, especially in MBC and SC households, while differences based on livelihood and age are less notable.