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Exploring the Food Choices of Muslim Arab Immigrants in Canada

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Exploring the Food Choices of Muslim Arab Immigrants in Canada Exploring the Food Choices of Muslim Arab Immigrants in Canada by Rana Aljaroudi A thesis presented to the University Of Waterloo in fulfilment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health & Health Systems Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2018 © Rana Aljaroudi 2018 Examining Committee Membership The following served on the Examining Committee for this thesis. The decision of the Examining Committee is by majority vote. External Examiner Dr. Hasan Vatanparast Associate Professor Supervisor(s) Dr. Sue Horton Professor Internal-external Member Dr. Hsiao D'Ailly Associate Professor Other Member(s) Dr. Rhona Hanning Professor Dr. Laurie Hoffman-Goetz Distinguished Professor Emerita ii AUTHOR’S DECLARATION “I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public. iii Abstract Objectives: This study aimed to investigate Arab Muslim immigrants' lived experiences in Canada and perceptions around food choice, including whether participants maintained their traditional diet or incorporated more Western foods. Method: This study utilized the phenomenological methodology with a sample of Arab Muslim mothers who immigrated to Canada 5 years or more ago who currently have school-age children and reside in the metropolitan areas of Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo and Mississauga, both of which are located in Southern Ontario, Canada. Data were collected in Arabic by semi-structured individual interviews, focusing on food availability, meal preparation and food choices in Canada. Data were translated into English and coded to facilitate analysis by NVivo11 Qualitative Analysis Software. Member checking was used in order to meet the criteria of credibility. To facilitate transferability, thick descriptions were written so that it will be possible for others to gain a clear understanding of the determined themes. A sample (2) of the 24 interviews were entered into NVivo by a second qualitative researcher as well as the original researcher, in order to check for accuracy and completeness, and the two transcripts were then compared. An adapted version of the Male Arab-American Acculturation Scale (MAAS) was also used to assess participants’ attitudes towards acculturation, and information was also collected on key socioeconomic variables of the household. Results: Participants reported that traditional foods were available at supermarkets, but they expressed concerns over the cost of food and the general lack of flavour and freshness. Some participants reported adjustment of the positive and negative healthy food behavior such as less frying of food; more reading of food nutrition facts and labels. Other participants reported that unhealthy food behavior increased, such as consuming easily prepared meals due to the lack of time; going to restaurants more often and consuming Western food due to children’s preferences to consume food in Western style. The Male Arab-American Acculturation Scale (MAAS) indicated no relation between the adaptation iv of food behavior or the retention of preparation of traditional food and the degree of acculturation after immigration among Arab Muslims participants. However, there were interesting associations of other socioeconomic variables (such as mother’s work status, length of time in Canada) with food behavior. Since the sample was relatively small and restricted to urban areas in Southern Ontario, the findings are specific to a particular demographic group. However, similar patterns have been observed for Arab immigrants in the United States, and some of the findings are consistent with those for other immigrant groups to Canada. Conclusions: Arab Muslim immigrants to Canada tend to try to balance the maintenance of their traditional dietary habits with being open to Western foods. However, some individuals resist the Western influence more than others. There were varying levels of adherence to religious dietary observances. Other variables could also impact food choices, such as family income, children’s age, level of education of the parents and parents’ work. The acculturation survey (MAAS) results in this study, while intriguing, were inconsistent with the extant literature. Overall, it is evident that the phenomenon of dietary acculturation for Arab Muslim Immigrants to Canada involved an experience of trying to find a balance between carrying forward food-related traditions and trying to adapt and fit into Canadian culture, including Canada’s food culture. Implications: Policy makers and international community focusing on immigration and dietitians as well should consider how they can help Arab Muslim immigrants to combine the healthiest aspects of their traditional diets with the healthier foods available in the West, to help them avoid diet-related health issues such as obesity and diabetes, which could help to reduce healthcare costs and improve health. Efforts such as these could help Arab Muslim immigrants to feel better supported in their new environments. By making Arab Muslims feel more welcomed and at home, this could subsequently improve social cohesion between new immigrants and long-term citizens as well. v Acknowledgement This thesis would not have been possible completed without the contribution of many people. My interest in this study was inspired by my advisor at the University of Waterloo, Dr. Sue Horton, who suggested that I investigate this type of topic. I would like to thank Dr. Sue Horton for her continuous encouragement, guidance and support. Without her help and support I wouldn't have been able to get through the research. Her feedback and advice provided during the four years have allowed me to become a better researcher and writer. My interest grew after I did the scoping review for my comprehensive examination, which was about acculturation among Arabs who migrated to Canada. I found that immigrant groups represent a growing population in Canadian society, but there is relatively little research on these minority populations, and especially Arab Muslims. Considering my background as a nutritionist and mother of two boys living in Canada with my husband I decided to focus my primary research on the food choices of Arab Muslims like me. As a Muslim woman who wears Al-Hijab, it could be easier for me to directly contact other Muslim women, which could help to facilitate this research. In addition, I felt that Muslim women would feel comfortable speaking with me especially if we are both Arab, speak the same language (Arabic), and share the experience of raising children in a country that is relatively new to us. Thus, I feel that I have a background that makes the study of food choices among Arab Muslim immigrants to Canada suitable to me. Also, I would like to thank my thesis committee, Dr.Rhona Hanning and Dr. Laurie Hoffman-Goetz for their contributions to my studies. Thank you for sharing your time and knowledge. vi I also would like to thank the participants of this study from Waterloo region and Mississauga since without their participation this study would not have been conducted. Special thanks forward to my husband Ramez and his help along my journey that started on 2008. Thank you for standing up for me, supporting me, pushing me to keep going, and being by my side all these years. My lovely children Yusuf and Kareem, you are the best gifts in my life and the reason for my keen desire to succeed. Finally, I could not forget to send all my love and thanks to my dad, mom, sibling, friends, and family members for their encouragement and support over the past 9 years. I would not be who I am today without them. Words cannot express how grateful I am to my family for their love, encouragement, and belief in me. vii Table of contents Examining Committee Membership ............................................................................... ii AUTHOR’S DECLARATION ....................................................................................... iii Abstract ............................................................................................................................. iv Acknowledgement ............................................................................................................ vi List of figures .................................................................................................................... xi List of Tables ................................................................................................................... xii Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Statement of the Problem ..............................................................................................................4 Chapter 2 ........................................................................................................................... 6 Literature review .............................................................................................................. 6 2.1 Immigration in the Global and Canadian Contexts ...............................................................6 2.2 Muslim Immigration to Canada ..................................................................................................7 2.2.1 Arab Immigration to Canada.................................................................................................................................8
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