Navigating Newcomers’ Food Transitions in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A developmental evaluation of a community-based program

Abstract

Abstract Refugee newcomers almost invariably face “food” culture shock and are at greater risk of food insecurity due to slow-to-evolve institutions. Community programs can help boost refugee newcomer confidence through knowledge exchange during intercultural culinary experiences. The originally proposed program was “Breaking Down the Walls (BDTW) - Building Integration and Cultural Appreciation through Shared Food Experiences with Refugee Newcomers”. With the restrictions set in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adaptations were made to the BDTW program. Specifically, the program’s scope was greatly reduced and the program itself shifted to a virtual environment. The final deliverables for this program included: 1) a framework/guide for conducting intercultural cooking events; and 2) an Online cultural brokerage training tool to help users to grasp some of the food-related challenges faced by newcomers to Canada. To best identify the challenges, successes, and efficacy of conducting community-based research, the team adopted a Developmental Evaluation approach, which is often used in complex settings and evolving scenarios such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The themes which emerged from interviews with participants were further distilled into broader areas of the COVID-19 pandemic, collaboration, and equity. Programs like BDTW have the potential to create infrastructure for newcomer nutrition programming that is integrated and streamlined as a long-term intervention. This type of programming would help shift care practices from sporadically addressing health/nutrition and settlement issues as they arise to a system that proactively anticipates nutritional needs from day one, ultimately promoting long-term health and mental wellbeing among newcomer populations.