Sarah the traditional Native American diet was one that modern-day nutritionists would consider a gold standard – full of lean meats, protein, fruits and vegetables and low in fat, refined sugars and sodium. Native people hunted, fished and gathered their food from the land.
But then in 1830s and 1840s, under the Indian Removal Act, Native American tribes signed treaties with the U.S. government that relegated them to reservations. This relocation also removed Native people from their usual food sources and the active lifestyle that hunting and gathering required. Instead, they were given government rations of commodities such as flour, lard and sugar. Those original commodities were not healthy for the people. They moved to a lot of highly processed foods really quickly. At the same time, they lost that physically active lifestyle that was practiced because they had to be active to hunt and gather and fish. That’s why we’ve seen a rapid increase in obesity and diabetes within the last 150 years or so. …show more content…
Limited funds mean limited access to nutritious foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables or whole grain carbohydrates, which are often more expensive than commodity goods like flour or shortening. Even getting to the grocery store can be a challenge for people without cars. A high percentage of Native American communities are located in “food deserts,” defined as a low-income area where the nearest supermarket is over a mile away, making obtaining fresh foods that much more
But then in 1830s and 1840s, under the Indian Removal Act, Native American tribes signed treaties with the U.S. government that relegated them to reservations. This relocation also removed Native people from their usual food sources and the active lifestyle that hunting and gathering required. Instead, they were given government rations of commodities such as flour, lard and sugar. Those original commodities were not healthy for the people. They moved to a lot of highly processed foods really quickly. At the same time, they lost that physically active lifestyle that was practiced because they had to be active to hunt and gather and fish. That’s why we’ve seen a rapid increase in obesity and diabetes within the last 150 years or so. …show more content…
Limited funds mean limited access to nutritious foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables or whole grain carbohydrates, which are often more expensive than commodity goods like flour or shortening. Even getting to the grocery store can be a challenge for people without cars. A high percentage of Native American communities are located in “food deserts,” defined as a low-income area where the nearest supermarket is over a mile away, making obtaining fresh foods that much more