Food Customs of Alaska Women of Childbearing Age: The Alaska WIC Healthy Moms Survey

Abstract

A survey of 60 rural, 62 urban Alaska women (64% Alaska Native) indicated positive dietary and lifestyle habits. Diets were characterized by boiled meats, high intakes of omega-3 fish, sea mammals and few desserts. Food insecurity reported by 39% rural and 7% of urban. Hunger was reported by 16% of rural and 5% of urban women. Traditional activities were walking, harvesting fish and picking berries. One third of calories came from non-traditional sugared and fruit juice beverages. Few respondents reported chronic diseases. Nutrition and health educational interventions in Alaska Native communities should reinforce existing positive lifestyle habits, involve Elders and tribal leaders, and incorporate Native values, customs and traditions.

KEYWORDS:

• Alaska Native diet
• cultural food habits
• food insecurity
• subsistence foods
• food frequency
• 24 hour recall

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We extend gracious acknowledgements to the Elders of the villages we visited and recognize the influence of the Elders' footprints that we each follow. This project would not have been possible without the Native Elders who agreed that the information was needed to help keep young families strong; staff from the village Tribal clinics who greatly assisted in the implementation of this study; and community members who were willing to participate and share their wisdom and knowledge. Gratitude is due to regional WIC coordinators who assisted with giving communities information about the study and obtained community approvals to collect data prior to the arrival of the research team. This report was completed under the leadership of Dr. Nancy Rody, Director of the Alaska WIC program at the time of this study. Special thanks are also given to Dr. Valerie George, Robert Stempel School of Public Health, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Florida International University for her suggestions on the research design of this study, and to Dr. M. Yvonne Jackson, Director, Office of American Indian, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian Programs for her helpful insight in the preparation of this manuscript.