Food and eating practices in migration processes: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Migration Studies
• Food Studies

Background:

• Food significantly impacts social, economic, and cultural dynamics, especially for migrants.
• Understanding food practices in migration is vital for addressing social, health, and identity consequences.
• The migrant paradox highlights transformed food practices and their implications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of social science literature on food practices and migration.
• To analyze the intersection of food practices with individual, familial, and community dynamics among migrants.
• To identify gaps in the literature, particularly concerning migrant families' food practices.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review adhering to the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews methodology.
• Inclusion of studies on human mobility and food-related activities, irrespective of methodology or migration type.
• Analysis of 76 selected studies using the socio-ecological model.

Main Results:

• Food practices are integral to migrant identity, adaptation strategies, and participation.
• Key themes include socio-demographic factors, intergenerational food transmission, gender roles, and food spaces fostering belonging.
• A significant gap exists in research on migrant families and their specific food practices.

Conclusions:

• Food practices are central to the migrant experience, influencing various life domains.
• Further longitudinal and comparative research is essential to understand the evolution of food practices.
• Developing robust theoretical frameworks is crucial for effective, inclusive policy interventions in multicultural contexts.