Increasing Affordable Fruits and Vegetables for Families With Food Insecurity

NCT06828445 | Recruiting Phase 1

• 2 other identifiers: Pro00136502R01DK140677
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 296
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Diet

Keywords

food insecurity; diet; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; fruit; vegetable; healthy eating; pediatrician

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Child diet quality

  Caregivers will complete a 3-day food record for their child's dietary intake. Child diet quality will then be assessed using the Healthy Eating Index.

  Baseline, 6, 18, and 30 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (13)

• Caregiver diet quality

  Baseline, 6, 18, and 30 weeks

• Child Eating Behaviors

  Baseline, 6, 18, and 30 weeks

• Process metrics

  Through study completion, an average of 3 years

• Intervention utilization

  Through study completion, an average of 3 years

• Perspectives of the intervention

  Through study completion, an average of 3 years

Study Arms (2)

Diet intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

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.

Behavioral: Veggie Vouchers

Education-only wait-list control

NO INTERVENTION

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.

Interventions

Veggie Vouchers BEHAVIORAL

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.

Diet intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 2 Years - 10 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

• 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of South Carolina: lead
• Virginia Commonwealth University: collaborator
• Cornell University: collaborator
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina, 29204, United States

RECRUITING

Central Study Contacts

Elizabeth Adams, PhD

CONTACT

803-777-0269; elizabeth-adams@sc.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 1
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: CARE PROVIDER, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 10, 2025
• First Posted: February 14, 2025
• Study Start: March 6, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2029
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2029
• Last Updated: April 4, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)