The main objective of this paper was to evaluate the nutritional status of population of altitudinal zone, based on chemical composition of food consumed by people in the region. The study area was divided into five altitudinal zones in GIS environment (Arc GIS 9.3 and ERDAS IMAGINE 9.1). Kendal’s ranking coefficient method, food surplus/deficit, nutrition intake were employed to show wide range of variations in terms of energy, protein, fat and calcium intake. Most of the population depends on cereals for their basic food. Nutritional deficiency occurs maximum in higher altitudinal zones, that is, zones ‘D’ (C.I <25.6) and ‘C’ (C.I 19.5-25.6) and low nutritional deficiency occurs in lower zones, that is, zones ‘A’ and ‘B’ (> C.I 19.3). Nutritional status of the population in the study were found lower the recommendations of Indian Council of Medical Research Standards and it varies from lower altitudes to higher altitudinal zones. Agriculture planning and nutritional awareness programs are needed to curb the grave problem and impose restrictions to land conversion a burning issue nowadays.

Keywords: Nutrition, food deficit, vulnerable, recommended daily allowance (RDA)