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Abstract

Purpose: Current literature identifies protective factors to healthy eating within the adolescent population, such as family meals, yet it fails to acknowledge variation between families and the difference in family structure associated with South Asian culture. The purpose of this descriptive study is to examine the food choices of South Asian adolescents and the extent to which food choices among Canadian-born South Asian adolescents are influenced by their home environment. Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted of the 2013 Adolescent Health Survey. The sample included adolescents who self-selected as South Asian. Measures included sex, immigrant status, yesterday food and drink choices, cultural connectedness and parental presence at evening meals. Differences in food and drink choices were analyzed for foreign-born and Canadian-born adolescents by sex using cross tabulations. Overall healthy versus less healthy eating was analyzed for foreign-born and Canadian-born adolescents by sex using logistic regression adjusting for significant variables, Results: Canadian-born South Asian adolescent males (p