Researchers studied what 20 Marshallese mothers in Arkansas were eating to understand their food choices and help them eat healthier. They found that these moms were eating a lot of white rice, which made up most of their calories, but not enough fruits and vegetables. The good news is that they were eating plenty of fish, which is healthy. The study suggests that nutrition programs need to be designed specifically for Marshallese families, taking into account their cultural food traditions while helping them add more variety and healthier options to their diets.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: What foods Marshallese mothers with babies under one year old were eating and whether their diets were healthy
  • Who participated: 20 Marshallese women living in Northwest Arkansas with an average age of about 25 years old, all with babies younger than 12 months
  • Key finding: The mothers’ overall diet quality score was 46 out of 100, which is considered low. White rice was their biggest source of calories, but they weren’t eating enough fruits, vegetables, and varied proteins
  • What it means for you: If you’re working with or supporting Marshallese families, nutrition advice should respect their cultural food traditions (like eating fish and rice) while gently introducing more fruits, vegetables, and smaller rice portions. This isn’t about changing their culture—it’s about adding healthier options they’ll actually enjoy

The Research Details

Researchers recruited 29 Marshallese mothers, and 20 of them completed the study. Each mother was called three times and asked to describe everything she ate and drank in the previous day. A bilingual Marshallese interviewer conducted these calls to make sure the mothers felt comfortable and understood the questions. The researchers then looked at what the mothers ate and scored their diet quality using a standard tool called the Healthy Eating Index, which measures how well someone’s diet matches nutrition guidelines. They also identified which specific foods contributed the most calories and nutrients to the mothers’ diets.

This approach is important because it captures real eating habits in a natural way, without asking people to remember everything they ate over weeks or months. By using a bilingual interviewer from the same community, the researchers made sure cultural food traditions and preferences were understood correctly. This kind of detailed information helps create nutrition education programs that actually fit with how people really eat, rather than generic advice that might not work for specific communities.

This was a small study with only 20 participants, so the findings may not apply to all Marshallese mothers everywhere. The study was exploratory, meaning it was designed to learn about the topic rather than prove something definitively. The researchers used trained interviewers and a standard diet quality measurement tool, which strengthens the reliability of what they found. However, because it’s a small group in one region, the results should be seen as a starting point for understanding this community’s eating patterns rather than final answers

What the Results Show

The mothers’ diet quality score was 46 out of 100, which falls into the low range. This means their eating patterns didn’t match nutrition guidelines very well. White rice was by far the biggest source of calories in their diets—much more than any other food. The mothers were eating good amounts of fish and seafood, which provided healthy proteins and fats. However, they weren’t eating enough fruits and vegetables, and they weren’t getting enough variety in their protein sources. The study found that their diets were heavily dependent on a few staple foods rather than a balanced mix of different food groups.

The research showed that fish and seafood were actually a strength in these mothers’ diets—they were eating more of these healthy proteins than many other populations. This suggests that building on their existing love of seafood could be a good strategy for improving their overall nutrition. The study also noted that the mothers’ eating patterns reflected their cultural food traditions, which is important to understand when trying to help them make healthier choices. The researchers found that simply telling people to eat differently without understanding their culture and food preferences is unlikely to work

While this is one of the first detailed studies of Marshallese mothers’ diets in the United States, it fits with what researchers know about immigrant and refugee communities—they often face challenges with diet quality when they move to new countries. The low diet quality score is similar to what’s been found in other populations with limited access to diverse, affordable foods. However, the high fish consumption is unique and positive, suggesting that Marshallese families have maintained healthy cultural food traditions that can be built upon

The study included only 20 mothers from one region of Arkansas, so the findings may not apply to all Marshallese families or those living in other parts of the country. Some mothers who started the study didn’t complete it, which could mean the final group wasn’t fully representative. The study only captured what mothers ate on three specific days, which might not show their typical eating patterns across the whole year. Additionally, the study didn’t look at why mothers made the food choices they did—whether it was due to cost, availability, time, or cultural preference—so we don’t know the best way to help them make changes

The Bottom Line

Nutrition programs for Marshallese families should be designed with their input and should respect their cultural food traditions. Rather than telling them to stop eating rice, programs should focus on reducing portion sizes and adding more vegetables, fruits, and varied proteins alongside the rice they enjoy. Healthcare providers should ask about and learn from their traditional foods, especially fish and seafood, which are nutritious choices. These recommendations are based on exploratory research, so they should be tested and refined with the community. Confidence level: Moderate—this is a good starting point, but more research is needed

Healthcare providers, nutrition educators, and community health workers serving Marshallese families should pay attention to these findings. Public health programs in areas with Marshallese populations can use this information to design better nutrition education. Marshallese mothers themselves may find it helpful to know that small changes—like eating less rice and more vegetables—can improve their family’s health while keeping their cultural food traditions. This research is less relevant for people from other cultural backgrounds, though some principles about diet quality apply broadly

Changes to eating habits typically take several weeks to a few months to become routine. Mothers might see small improvements in their energy levels and how they feel within 2-4 weeks of making changes. More significant health improvements, like better weight management or blood sugar control, usually take 2-3 months or longer to become noticeable. It’s important to make changes slowly and realistically rather than trying to overhaul everything at once

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily rice portion sizes (measure in cups) and count servings of fruits and vegetables eaten. Set a goal to gradually reduce rice portions by 10-20% while adding one extra fruit or vegetable serving per day
  • Use the app to log meals and get gentle reminders to include vegetables with meals. Create a ‘favorite fish recipes’ section to celebrate and track the healthy seafood choices already being made, then gradually add new lean protein options alongside traditional foods
  • Weekly check-ins on rice portion sizes and fruit/vegetable intake. Monthly reviews of overall diet variety. Track how family members feel (energy, digestion) to connect dietary changes with real-world benefits. Use photos of meals to visually track progress toward more colorful, varied plates

This research is exploratory and based on a small study of 20 mothers in one region. The findings suggest directions for nutrition improvement but should not be considered medical advice. Individual dietary needs vary based on health conditions, medications, and personal circumstances. Marshallese mothers and families should consult with their healthcare provider or a registered dietitian before making significant dietary changes, especially if they have health conditions like diabetes or heart disease. This study provides information to inform culturally appropriate nutrition education, not to replace personalized medical guidance