Malek Batal1,2, Hing Man Chan3, Amy Ing4, Karen Fediuk5, Peter Berti6, Tonio Sadik7, Louise Johnson-Down4. 1. Département de nutrition, Faculté de Médecine, Pavillon Liliane de Stewart, Université de Montréal, CP 6128 succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, H3T 1A8, Canada. malek.batal@umontreal.ca. 2. Centre de recherche en santé publique de l'Université de Montréal et du CIUSS du Centre-sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal (CReSP), 7101 Avenue du Parc, Montréal, QC, H3N 1X7, Canada. malek.batal@umontreal.ca. 3. Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada. 4. Département de nutrition, Faculté de Médecine, Pavillon Liliane de Stewart, Université de Montréal, CP 6128 succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, H3T 1A8, Canada. 5. First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment Study, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada. 6. HealthBridge Foundation of Canada, 1 Nicholas Street, Suite 1004, Ottawa, ON, KIN 7B7, Canada. 7. Assembly of First Nations, 55 Metcalfe Street, Suite 1600, Ottawa, ON, K1P 6L5, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Assess the diet quality of First Nations adults in Canada using percentage energy from traditional foods (TF) and ultra-processed products (UPP), food portions from the 2007 Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide - First Nations, Inuit and Métis (EWCFG-FNIM) and a Healthy Eating Index (HEI). METHODS: Data collection for this participatory research occurred in 92 First Nations reserves across Canada from 2008 to 2016. Percent daily energy intakes were estimated from 24-hour recalls for TF and NOVA food categories. Portions of food groups from the 2007 EWCFG-FNIM were compared to recommendations. A Canadian-adapted HEI was calculated for each participant. RESULTS: The percent energy from TF was 3% for all participants and 18% for consumers. Meat and alternatives were above the EWCFG-FNIM recommendations and all other food groups were below these. HEI was "low" with only older individuals attaining "average" scores. HEI was above "average" in 4 regions. UPP represented 55% of energy, the largest proportion from a NOVA category. CONCLUSION: The diet quality of First Nations adults in Canada is nutritionally poor. The nutrition, food security and health of First Nations would be improved by better access to TF and healthy store-bought food. However, poor diet is only one aspect of the difficulties facing First Nations in Canada. Researchers and policy makers must strive to better understand the multiple challenges facing First Nations Peoples in order to foster empowerment and self-determination to develop First Nations living conditions and lifestyles that are more culturally sound and more conducive to health.
OBJECTIVE: Assess the diet quality of First Nations adults in Canada using percentage energy from traditional foods (TF) and ultra-processed products (UPP), food portions from the 2007 Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide - First Nations, Inuit and Métis (EWCFG-FNIM) and a Healthy Eating Index (HEI). METHODS: Data collection for this participatory research occurred in 92 First Nations reserves across Canada from 2008 to 2016. Percent daily energy intakes were estimated from 24-hour recalls for TF and NOVA food categories. Portions of food groups from the 2007 EWCFG-FNIM were compared to recommendations. A Canadian-adapted HEI was calculated for each participant. RESULTS: The percent energy from TF was 3% for all participants and 18% for consumers. Meat and alternatives were above the EWCFG-FNIM recommendations and all other food groups were below these. HEI was "low" with only older individuals attaining "average" scores. HEI was above "average" in 4 regions. UPP represented 55% of energy, the largest proportion from a NOVA category. CONCLUSION: The diet quality of First Nations adults in Canada is nutritionally poor. The nutrition, food security and health of First Nations would be improved by better access to TF and healthy store-bought food. However, poor diet is only one aspect of the difficulties facing First Nations in Canada. Researchers and policy makers must strive to better understand the multiple challenges facing First Nations Peoples in order to foster empowerment and self-determination to develop First Nations living conditions and lifestyles that are more culturally sound and more conducive to health.
Entities:
Keywords:
Diet quality; First Nations; Healthy Eating Index; Indigenous; NOVA; Traditional food
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