ResearchResearch and Professional BriefIncreasing Access and Affordability of Produce Improves Perceived Consumption of Vegetables in Low-Income Seniors
Section snippets
Study Participants and Design
The study reflects a cross-sectional evaluation of F/V consumption and shopping habits before and after the Veggie Mobile intervention in a group of seniors between the months of April and October 2008. Participation was limited to Veggie Mobile shoppers aged 55 years or older who were residents of the selected senior housing sites. One low-income senior housing site was selected in each of the cities of Troy and Albany, two urban areas in New York's Capital Region. The two senior sites were
Results and Discussion
At baseline, 79 participants completed the survey and 63 completed the post-intervention survey. Of these, 43 seniors completed both (70% white [n=30], mean age 69±9 years). Many did not complete high school (n=18) and 27 received food stamps (also known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Baseline participants were divided into two groups: the cohort of return shoppers who completed both the pre- and post-surveys (n=43) and baseline-only shoppers who did not use the Veggie Mobile
Conclusions
The present study demonstrated a modest increase in reported vegetable intake associated with using the Veggie Mobile program. Although the reduction in disease risk at the individual level may not be clinically significant, the impact on the population may have an important effect on reducing chronic disease rates (44). After shopping at the Veggie Mobile, this population of low-income seniors decreased the frequency of trips to the supermarket and increased daily intakes of vegetables. This
R. AbuSabha is an associate professor, Nutrition Science Department, The Sage Colleges, Troy, NY
References (44)
- et al.
Fruit and vegetable intake in African AmericansIncome and store characteristics
Am J Prev Med
(2005) - et al.
More Americans are eating “5 a day” but intakes of dark green and cruciferous vegetables remain low
J Nutr
(2000) - et al.
Neighborhood socioeconomic status and fruit and vegetable intake among whites, blacks, and Mexican Americans in the United States
Am J Clin Nutr
(2008) - et al.
Ecological and socioeconomic correlates of fruit, juice, and vegetables consumption among African American boys
Prev Med
(2001) - et al.
Why Americans eat what they do: taste, nutrition, cost, convenience, and weight control concerns as influences on food consumption
J Am Diet Assoc
(1998) - et al.
Factors affecting vegetable consumption in low-income households
J Am Diet Assoc
(1994) - et al.
Availability of healthy foods and dietary patterns: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Am J Clin Nutr
(2009) - et al.
Food prices and fruit and vegetable consumption among young American adults
Health Place
(2009) - et al.
Neighborhood characteristics associated with the location of food stores and food service places
Am J Prev Med
(2002) - et al.
Proximity of supermarkets is positively associated with diet quality index for pregnancy
Prev Med
(2004)
Availability of more healthful food alternatives in traditional, convenience, and nontraditional types of food stores in two rural Texas counties
J Am Diet Assoc
Seattle 5-a-Day worksite to increase fruit and vegetable consumption
Prev Med
Low-income young adults report increased variety in fruit and vegetable intake after a stage-tailored intervention
Nutr Res
Diet, Nutrition and the prevention of cancer
Public Health Nutr
Dietary patterns and risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all causes of in a prospective cohort of women
Circulation
Fruit and vegetable intake and risk of cardiovascular disease in US adults: the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Epidemiologic Follow-Up Study
Am J Clin Nutr
Dietary intake of fruits and vegetables improves microvascular function in hypertensive subjects in a dose-dependent manner
Circulation
Older adults in the rural south are not meeting healthful eating guidelines
J Am Diet Assoc
Trends in fruit and vegetable consumption among adults in 16 US states: Behavioral risk factor surveillance system, 1990-1996
Am J Publ Health
Fruit and vegetable intake in the United States: The baseline survey of the five a day for better health program
Am J Health Promotion
Using intercept interview techniques to assess determinants and barriers related to fruit and vegetable consumption in multi-ethnic populations
Proceedings of the meeting of the American Public Health Association
Influences on fruit and vegetable procurements and consumption among urban African-American public housing residents and potential strategies for intervention
Fam Econ Nutr Rev
Cited by (71)
Food insecurity, food-related characteristics and behaviors, and fruit and vegetable intake in mobile market customers
2021, AppetiteCitation Excerpt :Recent research on mobile produce markets from two large-scale cluster randomized trials is promising; both trials indicated improvements in fruit and vegetable intake by as much as ½ to 1 serving per day (Gans et al., 2018; Leone et al., 2018). These findings are consistent with several smaller scale mobile market research studies that have also found improvements in access, purchase or dietary intake (AbuSabha, Namjoshi, & Klein, 2011; Gorham et al., 2015; Horning, Porter, Hassan, & Edson, 2020; Hsiao, Sibeko, Wicks, & Troy, 2018; Tester, Yen, & Laraia, 2012; Zepeda, Reznickova, & Lohr, 2014). However, while studies have posited that mobile markets may reduce food insecurity (Best & Johnson, 2016; Raciti & Reardon, 2017; Robinson, Weissman, Adair, Potteiger, & Villanueva, 2016), most mobile market research has not evaluated the food security status of customers.
Retail Nutrition Programs and Outcomes: An Evidence Analysis Center Scoping Review
2021, Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and DieteticsQualitative Study on Participant Perceptions of a Supermarket Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Program
2021, Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and DieteticsParticipant Perceptions of a Free Fresh Produce Market at a Health Center
2021, Journal of Nutrition Education and BehaviorFull-Service Twin Cities Mobile Market Impact: Qualitative Findings From Focus Groups With Customers
2020, Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
R. AbuSabha is an associate professor, Nutrition Science Department, The Sage Colleges, Troy, NY
D. Namjoshi is a graduate student, Nutrition Science Department, The Sage Colleges, Troy, NY
A. Klein is Executive Director, Capital District Community Gardens, Troy, NY