Seasonal variance in the diet of Ache hunter-gatherers in Eastern Paraguay

Seasonal variance in the diet of Ache hunter-gatherers is examined. Fluctuation in the number of calories of honey consumed daily contributed most to the differences in total calories consumed daily during different seasons of the year. Meat, the most important resource in the diet, provided the greatest number of calories daily, and varied little across seasons. The vegetable component of the diet is characterized by low variance in absolute numbers of calories, but high variance in species composition. The mean number of calories consumed daily per capita is high (3827 calories) compared to that reported for other hunter-gathers. Differences in energy expenditure and consumption among modern hunter-gatherers is discussed.