Acculturation to Canadian Foods by Chinese immigrant boys: changes in the perceived flavor, health value and prestige of foods.

Acculturation changes in the perceived qualities of foods was demonstrated in a group of first and second generation Chinese adolescent immigrants. The type and degree of change in perceived flavor, health value and prestige ratings varied for individual foods. The second generation subjects and those with more accultured patterns of language use, gave higher hedonic flavor and prestige ratings to dessert, snack and fast foods. This same group exhibited better discrimination between nutrient rich and poor foods as assessed by changes in perception of health value. Food perceptions of the more accultured second generation Chinese group were also found to approach those of an age and sex matched group of Canadian Anglophones. The results suggest that on immigration diet westernization may have nutritionally undesirable effects.