International Students in US Colleges and Universities : Eating Habits, Cultural Identity, and Dietary Acculturation

Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess international students' dietary acculturation issues with a focus on students of African origins in the United States. Responses of 142 participants from a survey that was sent out in spring 2011 are analyzed, supplemented with data from in-depth interviews conducted at that same time period. Participants aged 18-48 completed the self-administered questionnaire that asked about eating habits before and after moving to the U.S. We found that students from sub-Saharan Africa (16% of the sample) face more challenges in the U.S. than students from other origins. Results of the analysis suggest that food choices of international students, especially those from Africa, are guided by the availability of students' native foods in local stores, as well as the time spent in the United States. Newcomers in the country tend to look for foods they know. However, those who have lived in the U.S. more than 25 months find ways to adapt by either cooking or relying on friends they find in the area. There is an increase, especially among sub-Saharan African students, of items that are typical to American diet such as TV (frozen) dinners, packaged cakes, tea/coffee and a decrease in foods from their country of origin. Hence, dietary acculturation is a consequence of length of time, friendship ties, and availability of imported native foods.