This study will evaluate an intervention delivered by community partners, the “Veggie Van” mobile market, a van service that sells weekly boxes of reduced-cost, fresh, North Carolina-grown fruits and vegetables and provides nutrition education, taste testing, and cooking demonstrations. Specific aims of the study are to: 1) determine the impact of the Veggie Van on children’s diets by measuring parent-reported child intake of fruits, vegetables, and added sugars at home via multi-pass 24-hour dietary recalls as well as parent reported child attitudes toward consuming fresh fruits and vegetables; 2) analyze the mechanisms by which the Veggie Van affects children’s diet using Veggie Van purchasing data and grocery store receipts for each child’s household; and 3) assess parents’ self-reported home food offerings and preparation practices and their self-efficacy regarding preparing and serving fresh fruits and vegetables. Researchers will use a randomized controlled trial design with 12 sites (e.g., child-care centers, lower-income housing, churches) located in lower-income or low food access areas (6 intervention, 6 control). Data will be collected from approximately 180 parents with a child ages 3-10 years (15 at each site).
Evaluating the Impact of the Veggie Van Program in Underserved Communities on Youths’ Dietary Intake
Related Research
February 2016
Minimum Stocking Levels and Marketing Strategies of Healthful Foods for Small Retail Food Stores
The healthfulness of foods and beverages found in retail food stores differs widely across the United States, both by location of the store as well as by store type. Some communities have limited access to stores that carry healthful staple foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grain-rich foods, and … More
October 2018
A Qualitative Evaluation of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Grant Program
This research describes findings from interviews conducted with grantees of multi-year community-based and large-scale projects funded by the FINI mechanism, as well as with stakeholders who could speak to FINI on a broader level. A total of 22 interviews were conducted with 19 organizations. Key elements addressed in this evaluation … More
September 2018
Parents’ Reports of Fast-Food Purchases for Their Children: Have They Improved?
Few research studies have examined the menu items that parents purchase for their children at fast-food restaurants or their attitudes about healthier kids’ meals. The purpose of this research was to document specific menu items that parents reported purchasing for their children at the top fast-food restaurant chains, attitudes about … More