Modelling optimal diets for quality and cost: examples from Inuit and First Nations communities in Canada

This review summarizes aspects of the 2017 Canadian Nutrition Society symposium, â Modelling diets for quality and cost: examples from Inuit and First Nations in Canadaâ . Indigenous peoples in Canada experience a high prevalence of nutrition-related chronic disease due to the poor quality and high...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Willows, Noreen, Johnson-Down, Louise, Kenny, Tiff-Annie, Chan, Hing Man, Batal, Malek
Format: Other/Unknown Material
Language:unknown
Published: NRC Research Press (a division of Canadian Science Publishing) 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1807/95490
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/apnm-2018-0624
Description
Summary:This review summarizes aspects of the 2017 Canadian Nutrition Society symposium, â Modelling diets for quality and cost: examples from Inuit and First Nations in Canadaâ . Indigenous peoples in Canada experience a high prevalence of nutrition-related chronic disease due to the poor quality and high cost of their food supply. Since European colonisation, they have transitioned from a diet of minimally processed traditional foods (game, fish and plants) procured using pursuits such as hunting, fishing, gathering, and horticulture to a diet comprised mostly of processed market foods. This nutrition transition is the result of factors such as colonial policies and practices; climate change; environmental degradation; contaminants in traditional foods; and limited availability of, or access to, economical and healthful market foods. Presenters Malek Batal and Laurie Chan characterized the contemporary diets of First Nations and Inuit populations and demonstrated novel methods for modelling more optimal diets using two datasets: the First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment Study and the Inuit Health Survey. It was demonstrated how the NOVA classification characterized the portion of the diet consisting of processed foods. Dietary components were then manipulated to reduce ultra-processed food and drink intake to increase the Healthy Eating Index score. Linear programming was explained as a way to mathematically design theoretical diets that aim to optimize food cost, nutrition quality, and contaminant level of traditional foods. While diet-modelling methodologies have limitations, they provide a basis for engaging Indigenous peoples and governments to develop nutrition goals and policies anchored in contemporary food realities. The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author.