Dietary Issues in Contemporary Greenland: Dietary Patterns, Food Insecurity, and the Role of Traditional Food Among Greenlandic Inuit in the Twenty-First Century

The chapter explores food preferences of Inuit in Greenland, the role of the traditional Greenlandic food (kalaalimernit), and the prevalence and social variation of food insecurity. The analyses are based on published and unpublished results from three population health surveys and two qualitative studies among Inuit in Greenland. Kalaalimernit were preferred to imported foods but imported foods were also popular due to lower cost, ease of preparation, and a wish for variation. Contaminants played a minor role. Food insecurity was associated with socio-economic conditions and was reported much more often from remote East Greenland than from West Greenland, even after adjustment for social and economic variables. In the qualitative studies, food insecurity was predominantly talked about in the context of lack of money, while not having access to kalaalimernit was only hinted at as a cause. In conclusion, the seemingly low consumption of kalaalimernit was generally by choice and not due to lack of access or money. Most participants wished for the variation and ease of preparing imported food. The qualitative studies hinted that specific lack of kalaalimernit might contribute to food insecurity, but the overwhelming narrative was about lack of money to buy sufficient nutritious food for a family.