Food intake and growth in the Maasai

The traditional staple diet of the Maasai consists of cow milk and maizemeal, but there is variation in this diet depending on age. Young children are dependent on dairy products for both protein and energy and as a result their diet is particularly high in fat. As children get older, maizemeal becomes increasingly important in the diet, and carbohydrate rather than fat becomes the prime source of energy. The energy intakes of 411 Maasai children and 61 non‐pregnant and non‐lactating adult women were studied using 24‐hour food recalls and anthropometric measurements conducted over a one year period. The diet was found to be inadequate resulting in a high prevalence of under‐nutrition. The reasons for this, and the traditional Maasai social and cultural practices which serve to help overcome under‐nutrition in high risk periods are discussed.

Key words:

• Kenya
• Maasai
• energy sources
• energy intake
• protein intake
• thinness
• shortness