Lot of good advice from everyone. I have been to India many times, and other countries too, and never got sick. Basically, I follow the following 3 rules:
1. Drink bottled water (make sure the seal is opened in front of you for other cold drinks as well...Coke, beer, etc). 5 star hotels in India are very safe for food and water..you can drink the water from the hotel tap. Drink hot tea, hot milk or hot coffee everywhere else. Lassi is a cold drink, wonderful, and I make an exception for that but only at a reputable hotel-restaurant. I would also drink fresh squeezed orange juice with nothing else added..like ice. Avoid ice, generally, except at 5 star hotels.
2. Never eat cut fruit from a street vendor. (It's OK to buy fruit, wash it with tap water or clean water, and cut it yourself with a clean knife). OK to eat fruit at a 5 star hotel-restaurant.
3. Relax and enjoy your trip and the culture you have come to experience. (I have an uncle who worries about travel overseas to no end, and always seems to get sick on every trip.)

Of course, stick to hot food as much as possible. Good hot(temperature)and spicy food in India is great...hope you like spicy!!
Be prepared with your medicines just for insurance..I hope you will never have to use them. I always over eat when I go to India and still lose weight.

Are lassis made with crushed ice?

No, lassis are made with yogurt, and sometimes thinned down with water (if the yogurt is too thick or rich), and either sugar (for sweet lassi) or salt (for salty lassi). Some people like lassi cold and may add ice. But I always ask for lassi without ice and request no water added...I like it thicker. Lassi at a 5 star hotel-restaurant is safe, IMO.

This brings up another point. Never eat crushed ice cones in a foreign country, IMO. Ice cream cones and ice cream bars are OK from a reputable store.

I recently returned from my first trip to India and did not get sick. In addition to not drinking the water and not eating salads, I ate the yogurt at the hotels every morning. A few people had recommended this and it seemed to work for me. I ate everything else, including street food as long as it was hot and cooked. Have fun.

All good advice. I travel to India evry year. You have main medications Cipro and pepto bismol.
Five star or no star places:
1. Drink only bottled water for washing you hands, brushing.
2. Only eat hot food, no cold foods.
No milk, No fruits except banana, No Juices, they are very tempting.
3 Used hand santizer to clean your hands.
4. My trick take a tablet of pepto 15 minutes before you eat and you will be fine.
Street Vendor food is the best because it served hot and kills all bacteria.
I will take my own utensils when I go to eat at a street vendors.
You will have fun

I'm in India now, and I'd say a few things...

Most restaurants serve filtered water on the table...ask if it's filtered and save the environment a bit!

If you do get sick..."diarrhea" may not be the word to use to be understood. I've found "loose movement" to be a common Indian term for the problem if you do have it.

Jayna
travels at www.ususbaby.com