Dietary acculturation and eating habits of Ukrainian children in Finland: A socio-ecological framework analysis

Abstract

The Russian invasion of Ukraine displaced millions of children who face acute stress and require rapid adaptation to unfamiliar environments, potentially affecting lifelong health outcomes. This qualitative study explored factors influencing dietary acculturation and eating habits of Ukrainian children resettled in Finland. Five focus groups were conducted in August 2024 with 16 mothers and 12 children (aged 8-13 years) recruited through the Ukrainian Association in Finland. Interviews were conducted in Ukrainian, and transcripts were analysed in English using ATLAS.ti software, applying a socio-ecological framework to identify drivers and barriers across societal, school, family, and child levels. Major barriers included financial constraints and unfamiliar mixed ingredients in school meals at societal and school levels; strict adherence to Ukrainian food practices, unstructured snacking, and stress eating at family level; and resistant food preferences and picky eating at child level. Key drivers were affordable fresh produce and fish availability, free school lunches, and immigrant support; mandatory meal attendance, repeated exposure, and early food education; transition to bicultural eating patterns and adopting Finnish parental practices; and gradual food tasting and increased vegetable and fish consumption. Age-dependent patterns emerged as both barriers and drivers, with younger children showing less entrenched preferences and stronger peer conformity, facilitating dietary change, while older children's established tastes hindered acculturation. Dietary acculturation is shaped by multi-level factors, including children's age, family practices, food policy, and Finland's supportive context. Quantitative studies are needed to confirm findings across socio-ecological levels.