Food shopping patterns of low‐income Mexican women in Chicago^a

This project was initiated while the authors were at the Illinois Cancer Council, Chicago, IL.

A sample of 80 low‐income immigrant Mexican women in Chicago displayed food purchasing patterns reflecting traditional dietary preferences. They bought few convenience or prepared foods and few foods of low nutritional value. They bought produce almost exclusively fresh, which reduced their produce consumption in fall and winter relative to spring and summer. They bought few whole‐grain products or low‐fat products. The grocery store could serve as a site for nutritional education for these women, where consumption of whole grains, lower fat products and seasonal produce could be emphasized.

Key words:

• Mexican
• food purchasing
• nutrition education
• low income

Notes

This project was initiated while the authors were at the Illinois Cancer Council, Chicago, IL.