Food Experiences of Brazilian Immigrants in Lowell, MA

Objective In the U.S., immigrant diets are influenced by multiple factors, including ongoing nutrition transitions in their home countries and experiences with food insecurity. Massachusetts is home to one of the largest populations of Brazilians in the U.S. Brazil has experienced a nutrition transition with increased rates of overweight and obesity, and immigrants to the U.S. face dietary changes that put them at increased risk of chronic disease. This exploratory study among Brazilian immigrants in Lowell, MA examines relationships between access to food in Brazil prior to immigration, as well as personal characteristics. It also provides qualitative context for potential health and food issues among Brazilian immigrants in the U.S. Methods An exploratory mixed methods study of Brazilian immigrant food experiences in Brazil and the U.S. was conducted among English as a Second or Other Language students in Lowell, MA. Two focus groups were held to explore food experiences, and all focus group members (n=16) completed a survey of basic demographic information, including past food experiences. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the population. Pearson's chi square tested differences in past food experiences by personal characteristics. Results Nine of the 16 respondents (56%) had at least a high school education and 4/16 (25%) reported that they were literate in English. Almost all (15/16; 94%) reported that they often had enough to eat in Brazil, but only 9/16 (56%) reported that they often could afford the kinds of food that they wanted to eat in Brazil. High school graduates were more likely to report that they often had the kind of food they wanted to eat in Brazil, compared with non‐graduates (p=0.06). Participants expressed concern about gaining weight in the U.S. and indicated that they felt self‐identified Brazilian foods were more healthy than American‐style foods. They commented that imported Brazilian foods were more expensive in the U.S., but that vegetables, rice, beans, and meat were much less expensive in the U.S. While participants indicated that eating healthfully is important, they also acknowledged that they are gaining weight in the U.S. Conclusion Based on the findings of this small exploratory study of Brazilians in the U.S., potential areas for research and/or nutrition intervention with Brazilians include: assessing how past food experiences affect approaches to food in the relatively low‐cost U.S. food environment; examining how the cost of food impacts healthfulness of food choices in the U.S.; and further exploring definitions of healthful cultural eating in the U.S. Such future work could help improve the health of immigrants from countries that have already undergone a nutrition transition. Support or Funding Information This work is supported by the Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching, Scholarship, and Service at Framingham State University. It is also supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station and the Department of Nutrition of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, under project number MAS00994