Comparing Dietary Habits of Koreans in Northern America's West Coast City Areas by Immigration Age

A convenience samples of Korean-Canadian/American adults who lived in Vancouver, San Hose and Los Angeles areas for over 10 years, were studied in 2000. Total of 130 adults were analyzed by immigration age. The age of immigration age was divided into 3 groups: the young group immigrated at 25 or before, the middle group immigrated at 26 to 40, and the old group immigrated at over 40. Their average length of residence in Canada and the U.S. was a little longer than 20 years. The dietary behavior patterns were similar among 3 groups, except co-eaters and dining-out frequency, and the Korean-Canadians/Americans seemed to be more home-based, family-tightened and traditional patterns than Koreans in Korea. They liked Korean traditional basic dishes, but their children liked a-la-carte ones and immigrants at early 20's showed similar food preferences as young generations. The attitudes of dietary acculturation for themselves and for their children were high. Since immigrating at age 26 to 40 years old rather than 20's or over 40's, showed stronger acculturation attitudes even with no significance and revealed significantly differences in some dietary behaviors and food preferences, it is recommended that immigration age should be considered when planning dietary foodservices at nursing care systems for Korean Canadians/Americans.