Food use and nutrient adequacy in Baffin Inuit children and adolescents

In evaluating adequacy of nutrient intake and relative contribution of loca lly harvested food (i.e., "traditional" food) and imported market food for 164 Baffin Inuit children and adolescents, 604 24-hour recalls were obtaine d over a one-year period (1987 to 1988). Market food contributed an average of 84% of dietary energy and traditional food, 16%. Total and saturated fa t intakes corresponded closely to current recommendations, while sucrose in takes were higher than recommended. Most age and gender categories had a lo w prevalence of inadequate intakes of iron, zinc, and protein; over 50% of dietary iron and zinc was provided by traditional food. Calcium and vitamin A were obtained largely through market food, and there was a high risk of inadequacy for both nutrients in all age groups. The diets of 16-18-year-ol d girls were the most often inadequate, due to high consumption of low nutr ient-dense food and low consumption of traditional food. Food items rich in vitamin A and calcium should be promoted, and 16-18-year-old girls specifi cally targeted for education on food choices and health.