APPENDIX I
NUTRITION DATA
The
diet
of
the
Marshallese
breadfruit, pandanus, and rice.
smaller part of the diet.
People
consists
mainly
of
coconut,
fish,
Bananas, papayas, taro and arrowroot make up a
The percentage of the diet made up of each food type
will vary depending on location and season.
Naidu et. al. (1980) reported that
coconuts constitute up to 58% of the diet and fish constitute up to 36%.
Coconuts
Coconuts are grown thoughout the islands and in addition to providing food
they are the major cash crop when sold as copra.
The coconut has several uses.
The unopened flower is tapped to collect the liquid which is drunk fresh or
boiled down to produce a syrup used in cooking.
It can also be allowed to ferment
and then used as a beverage.
The immature nut is harvested for the milk or water and used commonly as a
beverage.
The jellylike endosperm of the drinking nut may be eaten.
This is
commonly used as a babyfood.
The mature endosperm or meat is eaten raw, cooked, or grated and mixed with
other foods.
The meat is the source of coconut oi] which is used for cooking.
This 01] produced from the copra (meat) is the cash source for most people in the
Marshall Islands.
The
coconut takes
about 12 months to mature but the tree produces
new
inflorescenses about every month so harvesting is fairly continuous throughout
the year.
Nutrient value: Protein - 7%, Fat - 60%, CHO - 15%, Fibre - 4%
Breadfruit
Breadfruit is the second most important local food.
eaten more like a vegetable than a fruit.
The fruit is usually
They may be eaten raw but most commonly
are boiled, baked, roasted, fried, or made into soup.
Breadfruit production is
seasonal
during
but
it can
be preserved
as
bwiru for
use
the
off
season.
Breadfruit is harvested for about 4 months (May-August) but research is currently
being conducted by the South Pacific Commission in Suva, Fiji, and the University