APPENDIX I
NUTRITION DATA
The
diet
of the Marshallese People
breadfruit, pandanus, and rice.
smaller part of the diet.
consists
mainly of
doconut,
fish,
Bananas, papayas, taro and arrowroot make up a
The percentage of the diet made up of
will vary depending on location and season.
Bach food type
Naidu et. al. (1980)| reported that
coconuts constitute up to 58% of the diet and fish constitute up
Eo 36%.
Coconuts
Coconuts are grown thoughout the islands and in addition to
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
boiled down to produce a syrup used in cooking.
providing food
unk fresh or
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 js
commonly used as a babyfood.
The mature endosperm or meat is eaten raw, cooked, or grated
other foods.
and mixed with
The meat is the source of coconut oi] which is useq for cooking.
This of] 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 treel produces
new
inflorescenses about every month so harvesting is fairly continuqus 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.
They may be eaten raw butimost commonly
are boiled, baked, roasted, fried, or made into soup.
seasonal
The fruit is usually
Breadfruit production is
but it can be preserved as bwiru for use during tha
Breadfruit is harvested for about 4 months (May-August) but researc®
being conducted by the South Pacific Commission in Suva, Fiji, and
off season.
is currently
the University