Category: Indigenous food systems

Historically, the pre-contact Native American diet was incredibly diverse and adapted to local ecosystems, featuring a wide array of foods from hunting, gathering, and sophisticated agricultural practices. It consisted of more complex carbohydrates, fewer fats, and a vast variety of wild and cultivated foods harvested sustainably from the land.

For some California Indigenous groups, acorns were a dietary staple for over 9,000 years. Yes, Native Americans ate acorns, which served as a crucial and abundant food source across various tribes, though their preparation and importance varied by region.

Despite common misconceptions, the traditional Inuit diet is not entirely free of carbohydrates; sources indicate that some groups derived approximately 10% of their energy from carbohydrates, primarily through animal glycogen and foraged plants. This counters the popular notion that the Inuit consumed a pure zero-carb diet and raises the question: what carbs does Inuit eat?