Author Description

The Kugaaruk (formerly Pelly Bay) Food Mail Pilot Project was initiated to promote healthy eating & improve food security by reducing the postage rate for priority perishables such as fruit & vegetables and most fresh dairy products & eggs. This report describes a survey conducted to obtain baseline data required to measure the impact of the Project. Survey objectives were: to evaluate the food purchasing patterns & food security status of households in Kugaaruk prior to Project implementation; and to assess nutrient intakes & the general status of Inuit women of child-bearing age in Kugaaruk at that time. After sections describing the survey methodology, results are presented with regard to household characteristics (including size & composition, source & amount of income and expenditure on food, and food purchasing practices) and nutrition (consumption patterns of country food & store-bought food, food preparation methods, women's health & lifestyle, energy & nutrient intake, and energy & nutrient contribution by food mail category). The results highlight a number of nutrition concerns for Kugaaruk residents. Copies of the survey questionnaires are appended.