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Food Choices and Healthy Eating in Hispanic Adults

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Diet Quality

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

Abstract

Hispanics comprise the largest minority group in the United States (US); it is estimated that by 2050, they will represent about 25 % of the US population [1]. The US Office of Management and Budget defines the terms “Hispanic,” “Latino,” and “of Spanish origin” as a “person of Cuban, Mexican (ME), Puerto Rican (PR), Central American (CA) or South American (SA), or other Spanish culture origin, regardless of race” [2]. Sometimes the terms “Latino” and “Hispanic” are used interchangeably; however, these terms are not used in Hispanic American countries; people from these countries prefer to refer themselves with national terms like “Colombians,” “Costa Ricans,” “Mexicans,” or “Dominicans.” Although, most of the Hispanics share a language (Spanish) and some cultural values, they should not be considered a homogenous group; Hispanics came from different sociocultural contexts [3]. Studies have demonstrated that Hispanics have differences in several socioeconomic indicators, health outcomes, lifestyle behaviors, and cultural characteristics [4, 5]. This chapter focuses on one of the main differences found within the Hispanic population—food-related practices.

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Abbreviations

AA:

Anglo-American

CA:

Central American

BMI:

Body mass index

LIH:

Low-income Hispanics

MA:

Mexican American

ME:

Mexican

NHANES:

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

PR:

Puerto Rican

RDA:

Recommended dietary allowances

SA:

South American

US:

United States

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food, Nutrition and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University, 242 Poole Agricultural, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA

    Yenory Hernandez-Garbanzo

  2. Department of Animal Science, University of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico

    America Chavez-Martinez

Authors
  1. Yenory Hernandez-Garbanzo
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  2. America Chavez-Martinez
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences, School of Medicine, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  2. Rosemead Surgery, 8A Ray Park Avenue, Maidenhead, SL6 8DS, Berkshire, United Kingdom

    Lan-Anh Hunter

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London, W1W 6UW, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

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Hernandez-Garbanzo, Y., Chavez-Martinez, A. (2013). Food Choices and Healthy Eating in Hispanic Adults. In: Preedy, V., Hunter, LA., Patel, V. (eds) Diet Quality. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7315-2_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7315-2_15

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-7314-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-7315-2

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