Cultural Considerations in Assessing Dietary Intake in Racially, Ethnically, or Socioeconomically Diverse Populations

The United States is experiencing rapid growth of racial and ethnic minority aging populations, with implications for health disparities research, as many of these groups experience excess prevalence of chronic diseases. The reasons for health disparities are multifactorial, including social determinants of health, with nutrition playing a critical role. The current inadequacy of dietary assessment methods limits this research. Evidence from food frequency questionnaires with multiethnic studies consistently shows lower validity among minority adults, even with some adaptation, relative to non-Hispanic White adults. This is likely to introduce not only error but also bias in estimates. In addition to adding foods, culturally specific recipes and portion sizes must be considered. Among those with low education, careful data collection with trained interviewers is essential. Important barriers to change include limited access to healthy foods, cultural preferences that influence dietary choices, and limited nutrition knowledge. Rediscovering traditional foodways may be an effective tool.