Papers, Presentations & Final Reports
Taco or Turkey Sandwich: What Influences Latinos' Food Choices?
Author: Leslie Rodriques RD, LD
Title: Taco or Turkey Sandwich: What Influences Latinos' Food Choices?
Presented at: The Society for Nutrition Education conference on Monday, July 28th, 2003.
The Latino population is expected to account for 25% of the total U.S. population in the next 50 years, and Georgia, in particular, is experiencing tremendous growth among this population. Latinos are a heterogeneous group with some attributes in common, but others that may differ, such as food choices. In addition to the variation in Latinos' diets according to their backgrounds, length of time in the U.S. also influences food choices. Therefore, focus groups were used to assess the eating habits of Latinos in Georgia. Focus groups revealed that recent immigrants preserve many of their traditional dietary patterns, but as Latinos become more "Americanized" or acculturated, many of these foods may be eliminated from their diets. Even those who still eat traditional dishes, eat more food in general (sodas, meat, fast food, etc.) after immigrating to the U.S., because they can afford it on American wages. An additional barrier to eating traditional favorites is the lack of availability of traditional ingredients and/or their high cost. Although some families may experience fewer illnesses due to improved nutrition, more family members become overweight in the U.S., which increases health disparities. Latina women buy and prepare the food for their families, but most husbands have an effect on food choices. Latinos want to know how to get their children to eat more healthy foods, reduce dietary fat, and learn about the nutritional benefits of fruits and vegetables and American foods. The project was funded by the United States Department of Agriculture Food Stamp program.
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