Year
2025
Season
Fall
Paper Type
Doctoral Dissertation
College
Brooks College of Health
Degree Name
Doctor of Clinical Nutrition (DCN)
Department
Nutrition & Dietetics
NACO controlled Corporate Body
University of North Florida. Department of Nutrition & Dietetics
Committee Chairperson
Dr. J. Lauren Butler
Second Advisor
Dr. Jenifer Ross
Third Advisor
Dr. Jamisha Leftwich
Department Chair
Dr. Andrea Y. Arikawa
College Dean
Dr. Mei Zhao
Abstract
Background: Persons of Mexican heritage are underrepresented in nutrition research, despite experiencing a higher prevalence of diet-related chronic diseases and persistent health disparities driven by socioeconomic and structural factors. Cultural dietary practices, including mixed dishes and traditional beverages, are central to intake but often inadequately captured by standard dietary assessment tools. This study aimed to characterize traditional foods, analyze nutrient intake, and identify top contributors to energy intake to inform the development of a culturally relevant quantitative food frequency questionnaire.
Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed 100 previously collected 24-hour dietary recalls from adults of Mexican heritage in Texas, drawn from the study Development of a Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire to Assess Pork and Traditional Food Intake among Persons of Mexican Heritage in Texas. Foods were classified as traditional or non-traditional and grouped into 14 culturally relevant categories. Energy, macronutrients, and selected micronutrients were analyzed, and the contribution of traditional foods to total energy intake was calculated.
Results: A total of 161 traditional foods were identified, with mixed dishes reported most frequently. Participants consumed an average of 1,759 kcal/day, 74 g/day protein, and 185 g/day carbohydrates. Traditional foods contributed nearly half of total daily energy, with mixed dishes alone accounting for 18%, followed by meats, poultry, and eggs. Nutrient intake highlighted shortfalls in iron and calcium, and excess sodium and saturated fat intake.
Conclusions: Traditional foods remain central to the diet of persons of Mexican heritage in Texas. Findings provide an empirical foundation for a culturally relevant quantitative food frequency questionnaire, with implications for dietary assessment, nutrition education, and interventions aimed at improving diet quality and addressing health disparities in this population.
Suggested Citation
Longo, Gabrielle, "Assessment of dietary intake of persons of Mexican heritage in Texas to inform a culturally relevant nutritional intervention" (2025). UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 1372.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/1372