Due to isolation from external world the local people were totally self sufficient in foods however the production was not enough to provide enough calories. For this reason different local traditional foods were prepared and consumed locally. Majority of people were producing buckwheat and barley to prepare bread  and were consuming different dried and fresh fruits. As almost all households were rearing considerable number of cattle so meat and other dairy products were an important part of traditional diet. It is said that people were waiting for the ripening of the first fruit mulberry to eat as food. During summer times most of families were not consuming any other foods and were consuming fresh fruits. During summer people were storing food items so to be consumed during winter. Most of the families were facing scarcity of food items during springs. During 1970s wheat was also introduced which fully replaced the traditional crops during late 1980s. On the other hand the opening of KKH during 1978 linked the region with plains of Pakistan thus people started to import food items from cities. KKH also led the commercialization of agriculture and potato as cash crop replaced wheat. Now local people are predominantly depending on food items exported from cities. The changing food trends can be witnessed from the emerging type of new causes of deaths as about 35% deaths in Altit during last 3 years were recorded due to heart attack and CVA.

During 1990s due to the opening of the region to outside influences through media and road infrastructures the local traditional dishes were almost replaced by Pakistani foods. The local traditional foods are now prepared during special occasions and festivals. Some of the important traditional foods are as below: