Nutritional status is one of the key indicators of the development in a society. Urban nutritional problems are increasingly becoming critical in India. This paper surveys the nutrition scene in Ahmedabad in relation to its soci-economic context, analyses the major problems identified, reviews the emerging trends and develops some tentative recommendations for future action. Improving the nutritional status is a complex task and often involves long term, fundamental changes in life-styles, economic activities and community action. In the short term, nutritional impacts can be achieved through education, public programmes and regulation. This exploratory paper is based on secondary data, informal discussions and observations and is written in a popular style to create a wider awareness of the issues. The paper identifies a number of researchable areas which need to be explored, if we have to get a systematic understanding of the problems in urban nutrition, as a guide to action.