Nutrition and Health in Pacific Cultures and Communities

How is food associated with culture?

Food has been a focal symbolic representation of one’s cultural identity and history. It is associated with special memories and is often one of the cultural norms that people of various ethnicities hold onto when they migrate to another country.

Why is food important when moving to a new country?

While surrounds and everyday life activities change, traditional food is one of the cultural treasures people can preserve.

What has changed over time to traditional foods?

Traditional food cultures have rapidly declined. People are cooking less and relying on fast food and restaurants to make their food for them (including traditional meals, but mean people do not know what is exactly being cooked).

How does food fuel traditions?

Home-cooked meals pass down traditional family recipes from one generation to another.

What has changed about the history of pacific countries food cultures?

Pacific countries are among the world’s oldest food cultures with consumption patterns dating back over 28,000 years. However in the past 100 years demographics, lifestyles and food supplied have been influenced by European contact - resulting in a nutritional transition and apparent decline in population health.

What is a food symbol of?

Love, sharing gifts, wealth and the act of bringing people together. It is at the heart of many pacific cultures.

How is food a status in pacific communities?

They will keep providing you with food to show that they care for you and so you go away and talk about how amazing the food was.

What is food a sign of in pacific communities?

In most cases, it is an act of respect to have food in plentiful amounts, especially for visitors, food is often the yardstick by which pacific gatherings are measured.

How were pacific people described in the 17th and 18th centuries?

Strong, muscular and mostly in good health.

What have pacific peoples been left with after urbanisation and centuries of migration and change?

Left little room to grow their crops. Struggle to have their own healthy food in their back yards.

What are traditional pacific foods that are no longer eaten?

Fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, wholegrains.

How did being secluded from the rest of the world benefit pacific countries?

Let their social, cultural and economic patterns be developed and untouched.

What does a good pacific wedding have?

Plenty of food, based on quantity not quality

What does the idea of being healthy NOT come down to?

Size

In pacific cultures what does being bigger mean?

Bigger = beautiful, wealth and that your family has enough money to feed you and their family.

What must change to shift cultural practices of pacific peoples?

Behaviours and perceptions must change. May be difficult to change straight away, start small and increase over time.

What is the MoH recommendation for NZ adults fruit and vegetable intake? (old)

At least 3 servings of vegetables and 2 or more of fruit

What percentage of pacific males are meeting recommendations for vegetable intake?

41%

What percentage of pacific Females are meeting recommendations for vegetable intake?

49%

What percentage of pacific males are meeting recommendations for fruit intake?

54%

What percentage of pacific females are meeting recommendations for fruit intake?

62%

Why is the percentages of pacific people meeting fruit and vegetables concerning?

As fruit and vegetables are everywhere around homes and villages in the Pacific but it is still easier to go and buy foods instead including fruits and veg. e.g. canned tuna instead of fishing for fresh

What health issues do pacific regions experience?

Double burden of malnutrition - under and over nutrition. But NCD epidemic has become a severe threat to the area’s life, health and development

What are most pacific countries and populations experiencing health wise?

An epidemic of obesity and suffering high rates of communicable and non-communicable diseases.

What has been the leading cause of mortality in middle income countries like Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Niue, Nauru and Cook Islands?

non-communicable diseases

How many pacific people are experiencing food insecurity?

50% of pacific households with 5 or more people living under one roof.

What is the driving factor contributing to food insecurity in pacific families?

Money, with majority working in low-paying jobs

What foods do pacific people feel they can buy?

Cheaper and usually unhealthier foods.

What is food insecurity for pacific families portrayed as?

Running out of food, having absolutely no money to buy food, and experiencing extreme hunger with having to skip meals.

What must you do with pacific people?

Establish and nurture positive relationships

Why do pacific people struggle with GP or dietitian visits?

As they are one on one. Need to recognise the importance of their connective society. Need to talk to whole family or community not just one of them (save money, time and resources)

How does food insecurity affect pacific peoples?

Affects pacific peoples ability to buy nutrient-quality foods, forcing them to resort to unfavourable food choices such as energy-dense diets high in refined grains, added sugars and fats in an attempt to save money.

What does research suggest about the foods pacific peoples eat?

That they do not chose to eat bad food, but the nutrition problem is primarily affected by income - beyond the control of the individual and pacific families.

What are the 3 food groups that were proposed as guidelines for pacific countries?

Energy foods

body-building foods

protective foods

What are energy foods?

Should make up half (50%) of all the food you eat each day.

e.g., starchy staples like taro, yams, cassava, breadfruit, rice and bread

What are bodybuilding foods?

Should make up one-sixth (15%) of all the food you eat each day.

e.g., protein rich foods like fish, chicken, meat, dried beans, nuts and milk

What are protective foods?

Should make up one third (35%) of all the food you eat each day

e.g., all fresh, locally grown vegetables and fruits

What was the salt, fat and sugar guideline proposed?

Chose, prepare and eat foods with less salt, fat and sugar.

What was the salt intake recommendation?

<1 tsp salt per day from all dietary sources. Not realistic for anyone.

What is the fat recommendation?

Total fat intake <30% (15-30%) of total energy, <10% from saturated fats, <1% from trans fatty acids.

What are the sugar recommendations?

Choose and prepare foods with less added or free sugar. High-sugar foods and drinks should not exceed 10% of daily energy intake. Choosing foods with less sugar is important for weight loss or diabetes management.

How should you go about providing health advice to pacific peoples?

No point going into someone’s family telling them exactly what they should do to become healthy when you don’t know their backgrounds and experiences. Important to establish relationships – go a much longer way.

What are the water recommendations?

A daily intake of about 2.5L (6-8cups) of fluid from drinks and food is recommended to maintain a steady state of fluid balance

What are the water recommendations for exercise?

You will need more than this if you are sweating a lot because it is hot, you are being active or have a fever.

During intense activity, a person can lose up to 3 litres of water in an hour through sweating.

It is essential to replace this as soon as possible by drinking water during the activity and not waiting till it has finished.

What percent of New Zealand’s population is Pacific?

8%

Name the three ‘nesain’ regions in the pacific?

Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia (Indonesia silent 4th)

Which Pacific nation has the highest number of PHDs per capita?

Tonga, education is a means to increase status

Name all Pacific countries that start with T?

Tonga, Tuvalu, Tokelau

Tru or False - corn beef is a pacific dish?

False