'We know what he likes, even if he doesn't know': how the children of South Asian immigrants characterize and influence the diets of their parents.

This article examines how second-generation (US-born) South Asians influence the dietary behaviors of their first-generation immigrant parents, addressing a gap in understanding family-based dietary dynamics within this community. Through interviews with 32 second-generation South Asians, the study identifies three main parental dietary drivers—goal-oriented (health and satiation), capacity-related (accessibility and cooking skills), and sociocultural (religion and cultural familiarity)—and describes how adult children influence their parents' diets by recommending foods, cooking, and introducing new foods at home. Motivated by concerns for parental health and dietary diversity, these second-generation individuals often act as agents of change, leveraging their nutritional knowledge and proximity to promote healthier eating. The findings suggest that involving second-generation South Asians in family-based dietary interventions could help overcome cultural, linguistic, and structural barriers to improving diet-related health outcomes in the South Asian American community.