What would you consider as "low income" food in India
Before you react strongly, please allow me to clarify that I'm not being judgmental here. I was raised with lower-middle-class standards myself. I'm simply trying to understand if, as humans, we change and upgrade our everyday food choices as we do with our phones and clothes.
I feel that "low income" food is a lot healthier than any crap you/me eat these days in these "high income" areas. Everyone just wants to show off, there's nothing better in things that we change as part of increasing our standards ( except healthcare ). It's like the need to switch to iPhones when it's not any better than a 15k chinese phone except for minor things.
And coming to the question, a lot of people do it. But I personally feel low income home meal is the best
Currently Indira rasois all over rajasthan serves all you can eat food for 8₹ per person, its lowest paid outside food as per my knowledge.
Now about the homes. Other difference that I've seen in urban low income households, inability to afford ghee, milk, solely relying on pulses and roti/chawal, minimal veggies, no fruits, no breakfast, not preparing "special" dishes at will, have to plan to even make kheer for a pooja,
In food department rural low income households have it much better, own cow, access to farms.
We have been uplifted from poor level dad moved to a city for work in 2003 at ~3k monthly salary with family of 4, for most of my schooling went to school without breakfast or a tiffin box, only had 2 meals day.
Dal roti for Rs. 10 - 15 a plate.
Source: Have had it. These places cater to workers en route to or going back from work.
Rice, dal, veggies depending on the season(and price) and chapati.
Dairy products are restricted to milk and dahi. Ghee, sometimes. No fancy stuff like paneer/cheese
Occasionally a plate of Pani puri, vadapao or some chat whichever is cheaper, to celebrate stuff.
Of course, people still survive even with stuff even less than this, but this is what I would consider to be low income food.
Low income food is anything that's less than 75 rupees per meal for an adult, be it home cooked or from a stall/restaurant. Still pretty nutritional.