Keywords

Caribbean, children, consumption, food groups, traditional foods

 

Authors

  1. Wall-Bassett, Elizabeth D. PhD, RD
  2. Gerard, Patrick D. PhD
  3. Kunkel, M. Elizabeth PhD, RD, FADA

Abstract

This project investigated food group and traditional versus nontraditional food consumption for primary school children in the Commonwealth of Dominica, British West Indies. A total of 198 children in grades 2 to 5 provided 24-hour recalls in year 1 and 196 provided recalls in year 2 (the mean age of the participants was 8.6 years in year 1 and was 9.6 years in year 2). Food items were ranked by average weight consumed and by number of children who consumed that food. It was found that food groups frequently consumed in Dominica were similar to findings in the United States and Great Britain. More traditional than nontraditional foods were consumed, although with a decline in local agricultural production; Dominica may be at the beginning of a nutrition transition.