Assessing Dietary Patterns and Implementing Cost-effective Interventions to Encourage a Plant-based Diet in an Underserved Urban Population

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying dietary habits and food preferences among underserved urban populations who experience food insecurity. The study aims to encourage plant-based eating by providing education and affordable resources, focusing on patients of primary care clinics who have screened positive for food insecurity since 2021. The goal is to understand how readiness to change diet relates to food neophobia and to assess the impact of educational aids and subsidized produce access on diet adherence. Participants may receive educational materials about the benefits of a plant-based diet along with simple recipes and food swaps. Some patients can also choose to enroll in a subsidized Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program that provides weekly farm produce boxes during the growing season. The study compares those receiving education alone with those who receive education plus access to subsidized produce. Enrollment and diet adherence are tracked before, during, and after the CSA period. Throughout the study, patients will complete surveys such as the Food Neophobia inventory and a Diet Inventory at multiple time points. Researchers will also gather qualitative feedback to understand participants' experiences. Secondary outcomes include monitoring changes in weight, blood pressure, hemoglobin A1C, and lipid profiles where applicable. Data privacy is maintained by de-identifying patient information and securely storing data. Participation lasts approximately one year with ongoing assessments during that time.

Encouraging a Plant Based Diet in an Underserved Urban Population