Table 3.

Why It Was Important to Mothers To Teach Their Child About Mexican and American Foods (Sample Quotes)

Reasons why it was important to teach child about Mexican foods
To pass on the child's cultural heritage
You teach it to them because if you don't teach it to them then they can't carry it with them, so it's very important because that's our tradition.
I cook Mexican foods for the family
Because I cook (Mexican foods), I tell him that he needs to learn how to eat it because that's what we eat …
To prepare child to visit Mexico
Because in the future, she will go to Mexico and she will look around and ask why, if her parents were Mexican, did they not teach her about Mexican food? She will say that she was born in the United States, grew up in the United States, but wonder why if her parents were from Mexico, did they not teach her things about Mexico? She will get to Mexico and they will ask her, “[Name], do you want to eat this?” and she will answer no, that she doesn't like that and then they will ask her “How come?,” if her parents were Mexican. Her response would be that her parents never taught her …
Child likes Mexican foods
… I cook for him what I know how to cook and that's the food that he's going to grow up with, and he likes it, he really likes it, especially because I know that beans have a lot of protein, they're very good and all and he likes it.
Mexican foods are healthier
Because sometimes it's healthier…Yes, Mexican food because you eat more vegetables, well, maybe, but I don't know, and the American is good but it's more flour than the Mexican.

Reasons why it was important to teach child about American foods
To assist child in making a successful transition to school
(Teaching my child about American foods) is very important…the food at school is mainly American…I try to buy him carrots, vegetables, or fruit so he learns to eat this. Or the bread that they sell here, I want to get it for him so he becomes accustomed to eating it at school … (This is) not very important for me, but for my child. How can I put it? I want to do it for my son, but I don't like it (laughing).
We live here
It's important, well, I think because we're in this country it's something that he's also going to learn. That's more of his decision as he grows older to learn that, too. I think that both parts are going to grow in his life because he was born here. Mine, Mexican, and his, this one, both things. I think it's about 50% American and Mexican, that's a mixture of cultures.
So child will be open-minded toward different foods
I like for them to learn to eat everything …
Child likes American foods
They like it, so sometimes I prepare it for them.
American foods are healthier
… I've seen that American food is healthier, they are more concerned about the nutrition of children.
American foods are faster to prepare
Mexican food is very elaborate and you don't always have time, so you find something easier, like pastas. That I usually make when I don't have a lot of time, like twice a month.