title: Traditional food consumption is associated with higher nutrient intakes in Inuit children attending childcare centres in Nunavik.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe traditional food (TF) consumption and to evaluate its impact on nutrient intakes of preschool Inuit children from Nunavik.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dietary intakes of children were assessed with a single 24-hour recall (n=217). TF consumption at home and at the childcare centres was compared. Differences in children's nutrient intakes when consuming or not consuming at least 1 TF item were examined using ANCOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 245 children attending childcare centres in 10 communities of Nunavik were recruited between 2006 and 2010. The children's mean age was 25.0±9.6 months (11-54 months). Thirty-six percent of children had consumed at least 1 TF item on the day of the recall. TF contributed to 2.6% of total energy intake. Caribou and Arctic char were the most reported TF species. Land animals and fish/shellfish were the main contributors to energy intake from TF (38 and 33%, respectively). In spite of a low TF intake, children who consumed TF had significantly (p<0.05) higher intakes of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, phosphorus, zinc, copper, selenium, niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and vitamin B12, and lower intakes of energy and carbohydrate compared with non-consumers. There was no significant difference in any of the socio-economic variables between children who consumed TF and those who did not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although TF was not eaten much, it contributed significantly to the nutrient intakes of children. Consumption of TF should be encouraged as it provides many nutritional, economic, and sociocultural benefits.
authors: Groupe d'études en nutrition publique, Département des sciences des aliments et de nutrition, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
authors: Doris
authors: D
authors: Gagné
authors: Rosanne
authors: R
authors: Blanchet
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Lauzière
authors: Émilie
authors: É
authors: Vaissière
authors: Carole
authors: C
authors: Vézina
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Ayotte
authors: Serge
authors: S
authors: Déry
authors: Huguette
authors: H
authors: Turgeon O'Brien
mesh_terms: D001110:Arctic Regions; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D004930:Inuit; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D020957:Nunavut; D009753:Nutritive Value; D011792:Quebec