Guatemala

Introduction
Malnutrition is an unfortunate, but extremely prevalent epidemic in Guatemala. Causes
of the epidemic include a lack of economic, environmental, and agricultural resources, as
well as lack of nutrition-related education. In order to prevent malnutrition from
occurring in the growing Guatemalan population in the United States, health care
professionals should be aware of their patients cultural practices and traditions. It is also
important to be conscious of each patients educational ability, which is currently lower
than the overall Hispanic populations ability. The cultural competence of dietitians will
allow for the provision of individualized care and tailored nutrition-related education for
each patient, resulting in the best possible health outcomes.

Traditional Meal Patterns Traditional D ishes

Guatemalan culture and cuisine have
strong Mayan and European influences,
which depend on the region. Most
Guatemalans consume three meals per
day, and the content of their diet varies
between regions. Two staple foods in both
rural and urban populations are corn and
beans. Guatemalans in rural regions tend
to suffer from higher poverty rates, forcing
them to rely heavily on corn and beans.
These individuals have minimal
consumption of animal proteins, fruits,
and vegetables. Malnutrition in urban
areas tends to manifest itself as obesity.
High saturated fat consumption from
animal products and unhealthy cooking
methods contribute to the high rate of
obesity. Urban Guatemalans also consume
high carbohydrate beverages, such as
licuado or sugar-loaded coffee with milk.
There is no official Guatemalan national
dish. However, there are many foods that
are popular and easily found all over
Guatemala, as well as in the United
States.
Tortillas
Pepian: thick stew made with meat,
vegetables, and spices
Chiles rellenos: chili peppers with a
variety of stuffing, including rice or
vegetables
Chicken pepian: chicken in a spicy
sesame and pumpkin sauce
Kakik: turkey soup with spices
Beans: red or black, served either
refried or mixed with rice
Licuado: milk mixed with sweetened
fruit juice
He alth Beliefs and Practices
Leading causes of death include respiratory infections, heart disease, diabetes,
HIV/AIDS, stroke, diarrheal disease, liver cirrhosis, and malnutrition.
Folk explanations and cures for diseases are common among the less educated and
include; herbal remedies, dietary adjustments, magical formulas, and prayers.
Shamans are believed to be healers and practice herbal medicine.
The majority of the population is Catholic or Protestant, but Mayan spirituality plays a
big role throughout their culture.
Occupation is the most significant contributor to physical activity. Overall, activity is
low with 35% of men and 5% of women participating in sports and exercise.

Barriers to Good Nutrition Communication G uidelines

Health care issues are higher in
indigenous, rural, poor populations
22 indigenous languages in
Guatemala
Many groups have strict cultural
practices regarding illness, birth,
and death. They feel these practices
are not respected in the hospital.
Over 80% of doctors in Guatemala
are located in the capital city, in
rural areas healthcare is inadequate.
Include father in nutrition related
discussions. Fathers make all the food
decisions for the entire family.
Include the mother-in-law in discussions
regarding breastfeeding and
introduction of complementary foods
Mother-in-laws play a large role in
couples lives when they have a baby.
Be respectful of traditional religious
practices including hot and cold foods,
and the use of Shamans.
Be prepared with a translator. Many
Guatemalans speak Spanish while many
others speak different dialects.
Keep everything simple, easy to
understand, and memorable. Maintain a
low literacy rate.
Make recommendations specific, and
easy to understand. For example,
portion of meat is size of the palm.

Nutrition Counseling Considerations

Stress the importance of breastfeeding and appropriately timed complementary foods.
Ensure kids are getting enough food to prevent malnutrition and stunting.
Incorporate healthy snacks to increase overall calorie and micronutrient intake.
Stress the importance of preventing health conditions as opposed to treating them once
they have set in.
Stick to whole or mashed beans in place of refried.
Increase intake nutrient dense foods including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to
prevent micronutrient deficiencies.