This paper investigates the role of food self-provisioning for the intake of macro- and
micronutrients of households in Mongolia. Our analysis is based on rich household survey
data that collected food consumption through consumption diaries. We analyze nutritional
outcomes within and across the three prevalent Mongolian livelihoods that derive food from
different sources: urban wave employees, rural households with small herds, and
pastoralists with large herds. Results show that food consumption patterns differ strongly
across the three livelihoods, with herding households having a better nutrition situation.
Moreover, food self-provisioning significantly affects dietary quality and quantity. Farming
food crops improves the nutrient intake of small herders. In contrast, the provision of food
through animal husbandry activities has ambivalent effects on households’ diet. It increases
the intake of calories and nutrients from animal sources, while it decreases the intake of
carbohydrates and nutrients from vegetal sources. This finding suggests household-specific
market failures due to remoteness exist. Last, exposure to a severe weather event did not
negatively affect households’ energy intake, but it reduces the intake of nutrient from
animal sources.