Culture and Diet Among Chinese American Children Aged 9–13 Years: A Qualitative Study

Objective To examine Chinese American children's behaviors, food preferences, and cultural influences on their diet. Design Qualitative individual interviews using constructs from the proposed model of dietary acculturation. Setting Community centers and Chinese schools in Houston, TX. Participants Twenty-five Chinese American children aged 9–13 years. Phenomenon of Interest Diet, favorite restaurants, and parents’ cooking and grocery shopping habits. Analysis Content analysis and thematic data analysis to identify code categories and themes. Coders also identified patterns based on demographic and acculturation factors. Results Overall, participants described their diets and associated behaviors as Asian and non-Asian. Key themes included preference for Asian and non-Asian foods; consumption of non-Asian foods for breakfast and lunch, but Asian foods for dinner; infrequent dining at restaurants; grocery shopping at Asian and non-Asian stores; and familial influences on diet. Acculturated children and children of higher socioeconomic status appeared to prefer and consume a more Westernized/non-Asian diet. Conclusions and Implications Results illustrate that Chinese American children in this study practiced both Asian and non-Asian dietary behaviors. Findings corroborated existing acculturation research with parents and caregivers; supported constructs in the model of dietary acculturation; and provide guidance for research and programs related to dietary behaviors, determinants, and culture among this population.