Increasing Affordable Fruits and Vegetables for Families With Food Insecurity

University of South Carolina

Status and phase: Enrolling; Phase 1

Conditions: Diet

Treatments: Behavioral: Veggie Vouchers

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT06828445

Pro00136502

R01DK140677 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Investigator will test an intervention to increase use of a fruit and vegetable incentive program in South Carolina for families in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) experiencing food insecurity. Caregivers are randomized to an intervention or an education-only, wait-list control group. The investigators hypothesize the intervention will improve diet-related outcomes, above and beyond the education-only wait-list control.

Full description

This study will test an intervention to increase use of a fruit and vegetable incentive program for families in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) using a randomized controlled trial design. Caregivers are randomized to the intervention or an education-only wait-list control group. All caregivers are given brief education about a SNAP fruit and vegetable incentive program. Caregivers in the intervention are also given an initial "free trial" of this program and free home delivery. The primary aim is to examine intervention efficacy on diet-related outcomes.

Enrollment: 296 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 2 to 10 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Primary caregiver 18+ years of age
• Has a child 2-10 years of age
• Speaks English
• Screens positive for food insecurity
• Currently enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Lives with a feasible radius for home delivery
• Consistent access to a phone that receives text messages

Exclusion criteria

• Anticipate no longer being enrolled in SNAP during the study duration
• Recent use of the SNAP fruit and vegetable incentive program
• Caregiver or child has a medical condition that impacts their ability to eat fruits and vegetables
• Caregiver or child has a significant food allergy, preference, or intolerance that impacts their ability to eat fruits and vegetables

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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296 participants in 2 patient groups

Diet intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Caregivers will receive brief education about a SNAP fruit and vegetable incentive program in South Carolina during their child's pediatrician visit. Following the visit, caregivers will receive a "free trial" of this SNAP program to encourage first-time use. After the free trial, caregivers can continue purchasing the same fruit and vegetable boxes at a steeply discounted price using their SNAP card. Free home delivery during the "free trial" and for all subsequent boxes purchased at a discounted rate will be offered during the full study duration.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Veggie Vouchers

Education-only wait-list control

No Intervention group

Description:

Caregivers will only receive brief education about a SNAP fruit and vegetable incentive program in South Carolina during their child's pediatrician visit. Once caregivers complete all study measures, they will be moved off the wait list and offered the intervention.