title: Dietary acculturation of Arab immigrants in the Greater Toronto Area.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We explored the eating habits of Arab immigrants to determine whether they have maintained their traditional diet or have consumed a more Westernized diet since immigrating to Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  Arab immigrants who had been in Canada for at least eight years and were currently living in the Greater Toronto Area were recruited. A sample of 24 Arab immigrants completed a mailed, self-administered questionnaire, and six participated in a focus group. The focus group discussion was transcribed verbatim and results were recorded. Latent content analysis was used to analyze, code, and categorize emerging themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Arab immigrants consumed a mixture of both Arabic and Western food and perceived their current diet to be healthier than it was before they immigrated to Canada. Factors that influenced their food choices included increased nutrition health awareness, differences in food preferences and preparation methods, and preservation of dietary practices in the new environment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings will help dietitians who work with Arab immigrants to become more aware of factors that motivate this group's food choices, and to create nutrition programs that are more culturally sensitive.
authors.affiliation: Division of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Brescia University College at the University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Dahlia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abou El Hassan
authors.forename: Sharareh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hekmat
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D018912:Arabs; D004032:Diet / Q000208:ethnology*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires