The composite diets of ninety pregnant women residing in rural areas of Haryana, Northern India, were analysed for protein, fat, calcium, iron, phytic acid, polyphenols, in vitro mineral (calcium, iron) availability and digestibility (in vitro) of starch and protein. The mean daily intakes of calcium and iron were lower than the recommended dietary allowances for pregnant women and their in vitro availability was only 4.07 and 3.09 per cent, respectively. Phytic acid and polyphenolic contents of diet were 616 and 563 mg %. In vitro digestibility of starch and protein were 74 mg maltose released/g meal and 78 per cent, respectively. Analysed values for protein, fat, calcium and iron were also compared with calculated values obtained using Indian Food Composition Tables. The calculated values for all nutrients were significantly higher than the analysed values. The study concludes that while carrying out diet composition studies of an individual or a population, unless we include laboratory analysis of composite diets, calculations from food composition tables will make little sense in assessing nutritional intake.
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