Relationships Between Children's Food Consumption and Social and Cultural Capital Levels Among Latino, Hmong, and Non-Hispanic White Parents of K–2 Children

Cultural influence on mindful eating: traditions and values as experienced by Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white parents of elementary-school children

OBJECTIVE

To examine perceptions of mindful eating and mindful food parenting among parents of elementary school children.

METHODS

Four focus groups were conducted with 19 Mexican-American parents and 13 non-Hispanic white parents of children from a northern California elementary school.

RESULTS

Themes emerging from this research included food traditions during mealtime, perceptions of mindful eating, mindful food parenting and portion control, mindful food parenting practices through gardening, and mindful food parenting with traditional foods. Mexican-American participants identified cooking traditional foods as an important part of their mindful eating and food parenting practices. Mexican-American participants also highlighted the importance of using their senses to appreciate food. Both Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white participants emphasized the importance of involving children in gardening and meal preparation. Mexican-American parents had different perceptions of food portion control than the non-Hispanic white participants.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study indicates the importance of mindfulness in broad food-related practices such as gardening, cooking and preserving food traditions in mindful eating practices. More research is needed to further understand how culture shapes and impacts these food practices among different cultural groups.

The relationship between cultural capital and lifestyle health behaviours in young people: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

While the universal prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours is high, cultural capital as a non-material resource shaping individuals' tastes can provide a substantial insight into different lifestyle behaviour choices. The aim of the present systematic review was to examine the evidence on the association between the three forms of cultural capital and lifestyle health behaviours.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a systematic literature review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Quality appraisal was carried out using the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies (QAT-OCCSS).

METHODS

The review included searches of 13 electronic databases with no restriction on the year of publication. Data were extracted using inclusion criteria and analysed using a narrative format. Eighteen studies were eligible for inclusion.

RESULTS

The relationship between cultural capital and lifestyle behaviours was confirmed in the studies measuring institutionalised cultural capital, and mostly supported in the studies that measured objectified and embodied cultural capital. While cultural capital had a significant relationship with some lifestyle behaviours, it was not significantly related to others. The important methodological weaknesses in the literature preclude the ability to state the associations as unequivocal.

CONCLUSION

While the association between cultural capital and lifestyle behaviours was supported in most of the included studies, more rigorous research methods are required to effectively assess the causality between cultural capital and lifestyle behaviours. More precise findings may lead to new entry points for the development of interventions to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours.

Bonding and Bridging Social and Cultural Capitals: Perceived Factors Associated With Family Eating Practices Among Hmong, Latino, and White Mothers and Fathers

OBJECTIVE

To examine perceived social and cultural capitals associated with family eating practices among Hmong, Latino, and white mothers and fathers.

METHODS

Six focus groups composed of 52 Hmong, Latino, and white mothers and fathers of young children were conducted to examine parental perceptions of social and cultural capitals associated with eating practices.

RESULTS

Whereas Hmong participants unanimously emphasized the healthfulness of their traditional food, Latino groups had divergent views on their traditional foods' healthfulness. Hmong parents highly valued their traditional foods whereas white and Latino mothers were more accepting of new foods from other cultures. Participants noted divergent views on gender roles in family eating practices and food culture preservation efforts.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Identifying and promoting bonding and bridging of cultural assets for healthy dietary practices among different cultural groups may be important for developing successful nutrition education programs across ethnicities in the community.