Culture of Milk:

I did research on how cow milk and other cow products are being talked about and eaten in Mexican populations in Los Angeles, but also what causes such milk products to be eaten and talked about. I interviewed Mexican parents who were either born in the United States or were migrants from Mexico. I also did some genetic coding to determine how common the occurrence of being able to digest milk is in Mexican populations.  

Through this, I found that Mexican American parents consume less milk on average than Mexican-American parents as a result of generational differences influencing how milk is seen, specifically Mexican-American parents view milk and lactose products as a secondary form of nutrition, while Mexican Migrant parents view it as a first approach to nutrition. These differences in how milk is being consumed are also a result of there being two mutations that cause milk to be digested in Mexicans who have Spaniard descendants. Finally, I found that both Mexican-American parents and Mexican Migrant parents talk about milk in similar ways, specifically relating to milk being seen as an important nutritional source for their children, but also a staple in Mexican culture. This research is important because it shows how biology, culture, and society shape the perception of nutrition.