Food intake of immigrants and non-immigrants in Ontario: Food group comparison with the recommendations of the 1992 Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating

This study investigated the relationship between place of birth and the likelihood of meeting the recommendations of the 1992 Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating (CFG) using data from the 1990 Ontario Health Survey. Respondents aged 18 years and over (n=36,616) were categorized as non-immigrants (born in Canada) or immigrants (born outside of Canada). Food intake was measured using a serf-administered food-frequency questionnaire. Respondents were classified as either meeting or not meeting at least 75% of the CFG recommendations, that is, having consumed or not consumed at least 75% of the minimum recommended number of servings of each CFG food group. Descriptive results indicated that only one-fifth of the respondents were meeting 75% of all four recommendations. The proportions of respondents meeting the recommendations for the individual food groups varied from 41.6% to 71.2%. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that certain Asian groups were particularly less likely than Canadian-born individuals to meet the recommendations for Milk Products, and that Europeans and Asians were in general more likely to meet the recommendations for Grain Products. Thus, food choices of Ontariuns tend to vary by place of birth. Some of the healthy eating habits of some immigrant groups should be reinforced.

Duke Scholars

Author Truls Ostbye Family Medicine and Community Health