Food habit changes in a group of immigrant Iranian women In Uppsala

Dietary change occurs in relation to transitional periods as in international migration. Some dietary changes may contribute to increased prevalence of chronic disease in immigrants to western countries. Several studies were carried out in Uppsala, Sweden for studying food habit changes among immigrant women from different countries. This paper presents findings from Iranian women. A first group consisting of 10 first-generation immigrant women participated in focus group interviews and a second group of 68 women, mothers to children attending Farsi home language courses filled out semi-structured questionnaires with information on how their consumption of 55 food items had changed following migration and their reasons. Food habits in the home country were mapped out and how different food clusters were altered after migration was analyzed semi qualitatively. Change was discernible in all food groups. A bicultural dietary pattern had emerged. Major reasons for change were the price of foods, lack of home-country products, convenience and the preferences of children