Access to culturally preferred foods: A meaningful part of the experience of food insecurity for low-income Latino immigrants

Risk factors, such as limited English proficiency, low levels of education, and limited eligibility for government safety net programs, place many low-income Latino immigrants in the U.S. at risk for food insecurity. Maintaining food security requires access to food that is not only safe and nutritious, but that also meets dietary and food preferences. Food preferences are influenced by social and cultural experiences, which, for Latino immigrants, include experiences from both their country of origin and the U.S. Given these factors, low-income Latino immigrants may have a qualitatively different experience of food insecurity than other groups, whose food preferences are based almost entirely on their experiences of food in the U.S. The present study explored the experience of food insecurity for Latino immigrants by examining the food preferences and the perceived challenges to accessing preferred foods. Forty in-depth interviews were conducted with low-income Latino immigrant adults in a suburb of Washington, D.C. Emergent themes revealed a discrepancy between preferred food and actual food consumed. Additionally, many participants compared the type and quality of foods they were accustomed to in their countries of origin and foods available in the U.S. and were in many ways dissatisfied. Participants varied in their reactions to their experience of food insecurity, yet these preliminary analyses suggest that limited access to culturally preferred foods is a meaningful element in the experience of food insecurity. The unique preferences and needs of this group should be considered in nutrition and food access policies aimed at improving food security.