Table 3.

Qualitative Themes Regarding the Intergenerational Transmission of Family Meal Practices

Themes Endorsed by Full Sample (>15% of participants)	Differences by Race/Ethnicity, Immigrant Status, Time in the United States (US) as an Immigrant	Themes Endorsed by Racial/Ethnic Groups
Research Question #1: What differences do parents describe between mealtimes with the family they grew up in (i.e., “then”) and their current family (i.e., “now”)?
Types of food eaten are different	This theme most frequently reported by Hmong, Latino, and White participants.	Somali participants: How food is served is different
Meal atmosphere and conversation is different	This theme most frequently reported by Native American and White participants.
Mealtime rules are different
Research Question #2: What similarities do parents describe between family meals then and now?
Food eaten at family meals then and now is similar	This theme most frequently reported by Hmong, Latino, and Somali participants.	African American participants: Nothing is different between family meals then and now
Research Question #3: What lessons did parents learn from their own parents and grandparents about family meals?
Parents learned that family meals are important	This theme endorsed by a) non-immigrant participants more than immigrant participants; and b) immigrant participants in the US over 10 years more than immigrant participants in the US 0–10 years.	Hmong participants: Parents learned about health and nutrition
Parents learned how to prepare food	This theme endorsed by immigrant participants in the US 0–10 years more than immigrant participants in the US over 10 years.
Research Question #4: What lessons are parents passing on to their own children?
Parents teach that family meals are important	This theme endorsed by immigrant participants in the US over 10 years more than immigrant participants in the US 0–10 years.	Latino and African American participants: Parents teach children how to cook
Parents teach about health and nutrition		Latino, Somali, and Hmong participants: Parents teach how to behave at family meals
Research Question #5: What do parents wish they did now, based on family meal experiences when growing up?
Parents wish that family meals were give the importance they had when they were children	This theme was endorsed by all racial/ethnic groups other than Somali.
Research Question #6: What challenges do families face in carrying out family meal practices?
Busy schedules
Chaotic home environment	This theme was endorsed most frequently by White participants and only by immigrant participants in the US over 10 years. Participants born in the US endorsed this theme more than immigrant participants. Somali families did not endorse this theme.
Food shortage or money concerns	Hmong participants most frequently endorsed this theme.
No challenges carrying out family meal practices	Somali participants most frequently endorsed this theme. Immigrant participants in the US 0–10 years endorsed this theme more frequently than immigrant participants in the US over 10 years.
Research Question #7: How do families handle the challenges to intergenerational transmission of family meal practices?
Get take out or serve quick foods	African American participants most frequently endorsed this theme. It was only endorsed by immigrant participants in the US more than 10 years (i.e., it was not reported by immigrant participants in the US 0–10 years).	Hmong, Native American, and African American participants: Change purchasing habits
Accommodate schedules	This theme endorsed most frequently by White and Latino participants and immigrant participants in the US more than 10 years.