Acculturation level and dietary intakes among Hispanic women in the EFNEP program

Abstract

A convenience sample of 168 female Hispanics in the Extension Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) completed the standard EFNEP demographic and food behavior forms, an acculturation scale, and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for fruit/vegetable and fat intake validated for use in Hispanics (Wakimoto et al., 2006). We hypothesized that nutrition quality would decline with acculturation. Mean age in years, body mass index, fruit and vegetable and fat FFQ scores were not significantly different by acculturation category (Spanish‐dominant, Bicultural, English‐dominant). Examination of the individual food items within the FFQ showed significantly higher consumption frequencies by the less‐acculturated women of fruit juices, vegetable soups, green salads, green peppers, plantains, tomatoes, and corn tortillas (p= 0.00). More‐acculturated women ate potatoes, hamburger, French fries, and used fat or oils more often than less‐acculturated women. Despite differences on individual food items, only 28% of the less‐acculturated and 23% of the more‐acculturated women consumed 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and 55% in all acculturation categories exceeded the FFQ dietary fat recommendation categories. Our findings suggest that Hispanic EFNEP participants are consuming excessive amounts of dietary fats and insufficient fruits and vegetables regardless of acculturation level.