Smart Dietary Intervention for Healthy Eating

(FoodImage2 Trial)

Overseen By Corby K Martin

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Disqualifiers: No iPhone, Refusal app use, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to reduce household food waste and improve nutrition by encouraging increased consumption of fruits and vegetables. Participants will use a smartphone app called FoodImage to track their food habits, including shopping, preparing, eating, and wasting food. One group will receive guidance on managing food waste and improving diet quality through the Smart Intervention for Food Waste Management and Replacing Current Diet with Fruits and Vegetables. Another group will focus on stress management through the Smart Intervention for Stress Management. Individuals who handle most of the food shopping and cooking at home and own an iPhone might be a good fit for this study. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research on nutrition and food waste management.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that managing food waste by replacing less nutritious foods with fruits and vegetables is safe. Studies have found that providing free fruits and vegetables to households improves diet quality without negative effects. This method uses the FoodImageTM app to track and reduce food waste while increasing the consumption of healthy foods like fruits and vegetables.

No harmful side effects have been reported from this approach. Instead, studies highlight benefits such as improved nutrition and reduced food waste. As a behavioral change rather than a medical treatment, it is generally easy to follow. Participants simply use the app to enhance their eating habits. There are no known risks, making it a safe and practical choice for those wanting to eat healthier and reduce waste. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores innovative ways to improve diet quality and manage stress through smart interventions. Unlike traditional dietary advice that often focuses solely on calorie counting, this trial uses a FoodImage app to track food acquisition, preparation, consumption, and waste, aiming to enhance awareness and reduce food waste. Additionally, both groups receive free fruit and vegetable boxes, encouraging healthier eating habits without increasing calorie intake. This dual focus on food waste management and stress management offers a holistic approach to improving overall health and wellness.

What evidence suggests that this trial's interventions could be effective for reducing food waste and improving nutrition?

Research shows that the FoodImageTM app can help people eat more fruits and vegetables while reducing food waste. In this trial, the Food Waste Intervention Group will receive guidance on managing food waste and replacing foods to improve diet quality. Studies have found that mobile apps can encourage healthier eating habits by increasing fruit and vegetable intake. Additionally, a smart coaching program focused on reducing food waste and replacing less healthy foods has been linked to better diet quality. Meanwhile, the Stress Management Control Group will receive guidance on stress management. Another study found that providing free produce to households can change eating habits, leading to less waste and more fruits and vegetables at home. This evidence supports the idea that smart dietary programs can effectively improve nutrition and reduce food waste. ^{1 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Corby K Martin, PhD

Principal Investigator

Pennington Biomedical

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults aged 18-62 who do the majority of food shopping and cooking in their household. They must own an iPhone, be willing to use it along with an app for the study, have a BMI between 18.5 - 50 kg/m2, and if they have children, they should be aged 6-18 years.

Inclusion Criteria

I do most of the grocery shopping and cooking at home.

All children in my household are between 6 to 18 years old.

Able to meet the schedule demands for the study

Exclusion Criteria

Pennington Biomedical Research Center employee

Unwilling to sign consent to use web screener questions for data set and analysis

I live with more than 2 children.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive a smart intervention to reduce food waste and improve diet quality using the FoodImage app

4 weeks

Participants use the app for approximately 3 days, including 1 weekend day

Control

Participants in the control group receive a stress management intervention and use the FoodImage app

4 weeks

Participants use the app for approximately 3 days, including 1 weekend day

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in food waste and diet quality after the intervention

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Smart Intervention for Food Waste Management and Replacing current diet with Fruits and Vegetables
• Smart Intervention for Stress Management

Trial Overview The study tests a smart intervention using the FoodImageTM app to reduce food waste at home and improve diet by increasing fruit and vegetable intake. Participants will receive tailored strategies to help them make better nutritional choices while minimizing waste.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Food Waste Intervention Group Active Control 1 Intervention

This group will receive an intervention on food waste management and fruit and vegetable replacement to increase diet quality while avoiding an increase in calories. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use the FoodImage app to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date.

Group II: Stress Management Control Group Placebo Group 1 Intervention

This group will receive an intervention on Stress Management and will be intensity matched to the treatment group. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use FoodImage to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

314

Recruited

183,000+

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans

Collaborator

Trials

123

Recruited

42,400+

Ohio State University

Collaborator

Trials

891

Recruited

2,659,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The mobile Food Record (mFR) method showed a significant correlation between reported energy intake and total energy expenditure, indicating its accuracy in dietary assessment among 45 participants over 7.5 days.

Participants found the mFR easy to use, and it performed comparably to traditional dietary records, with no systematic biases detected in the data collection process.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reported Energy Intake Accuracy Compared to Doubly Labeled Water and Usability of the Mobile Food Record among Community Dwelling Adults. Boushey, CJ., Spoden, M., Delp, EJ., et al.[2023]

A 3-week hospital-based cooking and gardening program for children aged 8-15 in Seattle showed promising results, with 100% of participants cooking at home and 78% gardening at home one year later.

This program demonstrates the feasibility of using integrated cooking and gardening interventions as effective strategies for promoting healthy eating habits among children and their families.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Joy of gardening: a hospital-based cooking and gardening program. Kim, G., Thompson, K.[2021]

Culinary interventions, such as cooking classes, did not significantly change cardiometabolic risk factors like body mass index, blood pressure, or LDL cholesterol in a review of 30 studies involving 7381 participants.

However, these interventions were effective in improving participants' attitudes, self-efficacy, and dietary intake, especially when combined with additional components like nutrition education or physical activity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of culinary interventions (cooking classes) on dietary intake and behavioral change: a systematic review and evidence map. Hasan, B., Thompson, WG., Almasri, J., et al.[2022]

The Healthy Teaching Kitchen (HTK) program, implemented by the Veterans Health Administration, has been found to be acceptable and feasible for veterans, providing interactive nutrition and culinary education.

Participants in the HTK program reported increased self-efficacy for making dietary changes, suggesting that the program empowers veterans to improve their dietary and cooking habits, potentially leading to better health outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Healthy Teaching Kitchen Programs: Experiential Nutrition Education Across Veterans Health Administration, 2018. Black, M., LaCroix, R., Hoerster, K., et al.[2020]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12045400/

Changes to Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Waste When ... Half were randomized to a smart tailored coaching intervention that emphasizes reducing food waste and the replacement of less nutritious foods ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12487266/

The effectiveness of mobile app-based interventions in ... Overall, we found strong evidence of app-induced increases in fruit and vegetable consumption, with a smaller significant effect observed for ...

3. portal.nifa.usda.gov portal.nifa.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/1025204-using-the-foodimagetm-app-to-assess-smart-interventions-designed-to-improve-nutrition-and-reduce-food-waste.html

Using the FoodImageTM App To Assess Smart Interventions ... Test if a smart intervention to reduce food waste and replace less healthy foods with FV significantly reduces post-intervention food waste ...

4. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/391185074_Changes_to_Fruit_and_Vegetable_Intake_and_Waste_When_Households_Receive_Free_Produce

Changes to Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Waste When ... Objective: The study evaluated changes in household food intake, the waste of fruits and vegetables (FV), and FV inventories after supplemental ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030691921830318X

Review: Consumption-stage food waste reduction ... Changing nutritional guidelines in schools were reported to reduce vegetable waste by up to 28%, indicating that healthy diets can be part of food waste ...

6. clinicaltrial.be clinicaltrial.be/en/details/38672?per_page=20&only_recruiting=0&enrolling_by_invitation=1&active_not_recruiting=1&not_yet_recruiting=0&completed=0&only_eligible=0&only_active=0

Free Living Food Waste Management and Diet Quality ... The intervention includes the free provision of fruits and vegetables (FV) and aims to reduce food waste and replace less healthy foods with FV.

7. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40313285/

Changes to Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Waste When ... The study evaluated changes in household food intake, the waste of fruits and vegetables (FV), and FV inventories after supplemental produce was provided free ...

8. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/357434482_A_Randomized_Controlled_Trial_to_Address_Consumer_Food_Waste_with_a_Technology-aided_Tailored_Sustainability_Intervention

A Randomized Controlled Trial to Address Consumer Food ... The treatment intervention yielded its expected effect with respect to plate waste, with a statistically significant reduction of 22.2 grams per ...