The diet bore evidence of the different cultures that had co-existed for generations: coastal Sámi, reindeer herding Sámi, Kvens and Norwegians. It was also influenced by the permanent residents’ barter tradition – verdde – with the reindeer herding Sámi. This was how the residents acquired reindeer meat, although they might also have their own reindeer in the care of the Sámi herders.
The permanently settled coastal Sámi for a long time made a living from farming and fishing amongst other things, and were more or less self-sufficient. Most of them had a cow and a few sheep, which gave them meat and milk. The animals were slaughtered in the autumn, and the meat was salted, dried or smoked. The people grew potatoes, rhubarb and turnips. Wild berries contributed to a balanced diet. Cloudberry picking was important and could be a particularly good source of income. They also picked crowberries, lingonberries, raspberries and blueberries, and made jams and cordials. Other fruit, however, was rare. Home-made bread was common, and also thin pastries called lefser and loaf cakes. Coffee, milk, water and diluted cordial were common drinks.
Hunting, trapping, shooting and fishing provided variety in the diet. During the winter season they hunted grouse, hare and fox. Grouse hunting could be profitable and was often done by trapping. March saw the beginning of the seal-hunting season, and large quantities of fresh seal meat was consumed. In April, flocks of snow bunting would arrive in Porsanger. They were trapped in snares, plucked and roasted. This was a real treat for many, eaten with potatoes and vegetables or bread, or made into soup.
It was nevertheless fish which provided the most regular food on the table. If not eaten fresh, it was dried on a hjell – a drying rack – on the shoreline. A popular dish was fiskemølje – fish, liver and roe poached together in a pan. Fish for supper five days a week was the norm.