The chapters in this section address the common food practices, related health conditions, and nutrition counseling considerations of people in the US who identify with Caribbean heritage, including Hispanic Caribbean American people (from the Spanish-speaking Caribbean archipelagos; Chapter 13) and non-Hispanic Caribbean American people (from the primarily English- speaking Commonwealth Caribbean; Chapter 14).
T
he Caribbean is composed of islands, islets, reefs, and cays (many too small for habitation), part of the
Atlantic Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea. Tis distinct region of the Americas is south and southeast of the North American mainland, east of Central America, and north of South America. Collectively, the region’s islands and islets are called the West Indies. Te Caribbean is home to 13 independent nations and 17 territories. Te territories are governed by Colombia, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the US, and Venezuela.1 100 islands are inhabited permanently.