Dietary nutrients of Sahtú Dene/Métis vary by food source, season and age

Abstract

This article reports nutrient intake from traditional and market food of Dene/Metis people from 2 communities of the Canadian sub‐Arctic. Dietary intake was assessed during 2 seasons for children and adult men and during 3 seasons for adult women. A total of 709 24‐hour recalls were evaluated. Dietary nutrient intake is shown to vary by source of food as well as by age, gender and season. Traditional food provides a large proportion of the total energy intake and is the major source of multiple nutrients, iron and zinc in particular. Market food is the major source of carbohydrate, fat, sodium, calcium and vitamin A. The respective nutrient densities of traditional and market food consumed are presented. Comparison of individual intakes to Canadian RNIs shows calcium and vitamin A to be the nutrients most likely to be at risk.