The South Indian diet is heavily dependent on cooked vegetables as well as rice and lentils. The latter serve as a primary source of protein prepared in an almost infinite variety of ways. Pure vegetarians are common, but food prepared with chicken, eggs, and fish is available in restaurants and with some host families. These non-vegetarian dishes are used more as side dishes than main courses.

Numerous types of bananas and other tropical fruits are common, and peeling makes them safe to eat. Milk is always boiled before use, so cold milk products are rare, but coffee and tea (always made with milk in Tamil Nadu) and bottled soft drinks are to be found everywhere.

Host families boil drinking water, purified water is freely available at the SITA center for student consumption, and bottled water is widely available around town. To minimize chances of becoming ill from food or drink, students are carefully instructed at orientation about necessary precautions needed to ensure their health.