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Increasing Access and Affordability of Produce Improves Perceived Consumption of Vegetables in Low-Income Seniors

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2011.07.003Get rights and content

Abstract

High cost and limited access to food have been associated with lower intake of fruits and vegetables in limited-income individuals. The Veggie Mobile is a van that carries fresh produce and travels in low-income neighborhoods, selling fruits and vegetables at a fraction of regular supermarket prices. The purpose of this study was to determine whether participation in the Veggie Mobile increases fruit and vegetable intake in a group of seniors. The intervention, buying fruits and vegetables from the Veggie Mobile, was implemented between April and October 2008 in two senior housing sites that had not previously received Veggie Mobile services. Participants were asked about fruit and vegetable intake using a modified six-item questionnaire based on the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System at preintervention and again at 3 to 5 months. The post-survey also included questions about perceived benefits and barriers to using the Veggie Mobile. The two cross-sections of seniors were matched using date of birth. Wilcoxon signed rank test and paired samples t tests examined change in pre- and post-intervention variables. Seventy-nine older adults completed the baseline survey and 63 completed the post-survey. Of these, 43 participants completed both surveys (70% white [n=30], mean age 69 ± 9 years). Mean intake of fruits and vegetables after using the Veggie Mobile increased by 0.37 servings/day. Vegetable intake alone increased from 1.98 ± 1.71 servings/day to 2.58 ± 1.4 servings/day (P=0.027), half of which was potatoes. Change in fruit intake was not significant (P=0.358). At post-intervention, seniors visited the supermarket less often (P=0.001) and spent an average of $14.92 less during their last visit. The majority of participants who completed the post-survey (62 of 63) indicated being satisfied with the program. The Veggie Mobile provides an example of a simple community intervention that has potential to lead to positive behavior change among 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

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    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

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