Attributes of vitamin A and calcium-rich foods consumed in K'asho Got'ine, NWT

Over 60% of the population in K'asho Got'ine, NWT, obtained less than 2/3 of the Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNI) for vitamin A and calcium, as reported in a previous nutritional assessment. Focus group discussions and a food preference assessment were conducted with adults in order to identify the cultural, ecological, and socioeconomic factors (food attributes) as well as the individual preferences which influence the consumption of vitamin A and calcium-rich traditional and market foods in K'asho Got'ine. The major attributes limiting intakes of traditional food rich in vitamin A and calcium included: lack of equipment for hunting/fishing; seasonality; distance traveled to obtain certain foods; occasional unhealthy appearance of food; no hunter/fisher in the household. The major food attributes reported as barriers to greater intakes of selected market foods were: cost, freshness, intolerance to certain items, availability and unfamiliarity. Foods that received the highest preference scores were rabbit liver, loche liver, and Canada goose meat (smoked/dried) for vitamin A-rich foods and connie eggs, rabbit flesh, woodland and barrenland caribou head for calcium-rich foods. Criteria for selection of traditional and market foods to promote in the community included: (1) convenience of the food; (2) difficulty to overcome barriers to increasing food consumption; (3) concentration level of contaminants in certain traditional food; and (4) food preference score. This study identified available and underutilized traditional and market foods rich in vitamin A and calcium which are most acceptable to the community, and may be promoted in future nutrition intervention programs