The home food environment is associated with child traditional food intake: an analysis of parent-child dyads in rural, remote Alaska Native communities

Abstract

Traditional foods are the underpinning of diet quality in rural, remote Alaska Native communities. Relatively low intake of traditional foods among Alaska Native children is therefore of concern. We conducted formative research to understand the influence of the home food environment on child intake of traditional foods. Two 24-hour recalls were collected from 29 Yup'ik Eskimo parent and child dyads using NDSR software. A survey assessing perceptions and availability of traditional foods was administered. Overall, intake of traditional foods was significantly lower among children than parents. Child intake of traditional foods, however, was positively correlated with parent intake (r= 0.70, P<0.01). Child intake of traditional foods was higher among those whose parents placed a greater importance on eating traditional foods. Findings suggest that interventions targeting parents may be an effective strategy to increase intake of traditional foods and improve diet quality among Alaska Native youth. Supported by NIH grant P20-RR016430