A new study from Tufts found that foreign-born blacks—predominantly from countries across the Caribbean and Africa—tend to consume a higher-quality diet than US-born blacks, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Their eating patterns include more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and omega-3 fatty acids, in comparison to native-born blacks.
Non-Hispanic blacks in the US are less likely to meet national dietary recommendations than are non-Hispanic whites. Intakes of vegetables, whole grains, milk, fiber, potassium, and calcium are lower among blacks than whites, but intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages and other added sugars are higher.
The study is the first to use extensive national data to compare the diet of foreign-born and US-born blacks. It helps to fill an important gap in knowledge. Studies like this one can help public health workers and scientists develop more effective programs to reduce diet-related diseases and disparities in the diverse US black population.