The food at the host family generally depends upon the culture of that family. Hindus in India are largely vegetarians. The general practice in non vegetarian families is to have meat once in a week , rest is simple veg food which includes rice, sambar, curry, vegetables, curds( yogurt) and some fruits like grapes, mango, water melon, bananas,etc which are seasonal. Filtered drinking water is supplied by the SBF in cans to volunteers/interns staying with the host families in case the family doesn’t own an electronic water filtering machine(Aquaguard).

The food at the volunteer/intern camp or the SBF camp is cooked by a full time cook. The food is simple vegetarian on most of the week days and occasional non vegetarian on Sunday nights and on other celebrations. The break fast may include local delicacies like Idli, vada, dosa, upma, spring biryani, chapati, jowar roti with brinjal curry, etc. The lunch and dinner includes rice , sambar, curry, vegetables, yogurt and some seasonal and tropical fruits like grapes, mangoes, water melon, bananas, etc. SBF takes care to see that the food you eat is a local cuisine to add to your experience. Food on Sundays and on celebrations includes special non vegetarian Indian delicacies like chicken biryani. Occasional barbecues are also arranged so that the volunteers/interns get together and have fun. Pure filtered water is supplied in cans and the volunteers/interns can carry it in bottles when they are out on a field work.