UCRH researcher Caroline Deen has contributed to a new publication exploring how traditional food practices help protect the nutrition of children in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, even in the face of widespread food insecurity.
The study looked at the diets and food security status of pregnant and breastfeeding women and children aged six months to five years across eight remote communities in Cape York and Central Australia. It found that while many households reported food insecurity, families were still able to support better diet quality in children — especially where traditional food intake was higher.
Children’s diets were closer to recommended patterns than those of adults, and long-duration breastfeeding was common. The research also showed that traditional food consumption helped buffer the impact of food insecurity on diet quality.
This work adds to the growing evidence that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander food systems are central to improving health outcomes in remote communities.
