Super Chef Program for Healthy Eating

Overseen By Chishinga Callender, MS

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Baylor College of Medicine

Disqualifiers: Seizure disorder, Psychiatric conditions, Cancer, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

Duration: 6 weeks

88 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Given the limited effectiveness of single food group-targeted interventions to enhance child nutrition, a key component of current and future health, innovative approaches are needed. Healthy dietary patterns are emerging as an important intervention target, and the Mediterranean Dietary pattern has been particularly effective at reducing cardiovascular disease risk factors, a leading cause of death in the US. Since parents are the gatekeepers of the home food environment and influence child intake through food-related parenting practices, children enjoy cooking with parents, and home food preparation is associated with more healthful dietary intake. Therefore, the investigators propose to develop and assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an online cooking intervention for parent-child dyads living in low-income households that promotes the Mediterranean dietary pattern and healthful food-related parenting practices.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but if you are currently being treated with medications that impact dietary intake, you may not be eligible to participate.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Super Chef: Family Fun in the Kitchen! for healthy eating?

Research shows that hands-on cooking classes and kitchen-based nutrition education, like those in the Super Chef program, can improve adherence to healthy diets such as the Mediterranean diet, increase fruit and vegetable intake, and enhance confidence in preparing healthy meals, which are all beneficial for promoting healthy eating habits. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Super Chef Program for Healthy Eating safe for humans?

The research on culinary medicine programs, which include hands-on cooking and nutrition education similar to the Super Chef Program, suggests they are generally safe and can improve dietary habits and health knowledge. These programs have been associated with positive changes in diet and lifestyle without reported safety concerns. ^{1 2 5 6 7}

How is the Super Chef Program for Healthy Eating different from other treatments?

The Super Chef Program is unique because it uses hands-on cooking classes to teach families about healthy eating, focusing on the Mediterranean diet, which is known for reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Unlike traditional nutrition education, this program emphasizes practical cooking skills and family involvement, making it a fun and engaging way to improve dietary habits. ^{1 2 4 5 8}

Research Team

Deborah Thompson, PhD

Principal Investigator

USDA/ARS CNRC, BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for families with a child aged 10-12 and a parent or caregiver. They must qualify for free or reduced price school meals, have reliable internet access, live in Texas, and be fluent in English.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a child aged 10-12 with a parent or caregiver.

Fluent in English

Family qualifies for free or reduced price meals at school

Exclusion Criteria

I have significant hearing or vision loss.

Lack of binocular vision

Psychiatric conditions (e.g., paranoia, manic depressive psychosis)

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Families randomized to the intervention group will receive the 4-session prototype over a period of up to 6 weeks.

6 weeks

4 sessions (online)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Super Chef: Family Fun in the Kitchen!

Trial Overview The 'Super Chef: Family Fun in the Kitchen!' program is being tested to see if it can help low-income families eat healthier by promoting the Mediterranean dietary pattern through online cooking sessions.

Participant Groups

Group I: Treatment Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

After completing baseline data collection, families randomized to the intervention group will receive the 4-session prototype over a period of up to 6 weeks. This will allow for illness, family vacations, school holidays, and scheduling conflicts. After completing session 4, the family will proceed to post assessment. The investigators have successfully used this approach in previous interventions. It is anticipated each session will take \~1.5 hrs to complete (online phase - \~30 minutes; home phase - \~1 hr). The parent and child will each be assigned a password with which to login to the online phase. Parents and children will be asked to keep their password private. Each will need to login at the same time to view each new online session. The session can be viewed by parent or child separately or together after the initial viewing.

Group II: Wait-list control Active Control 1 Intervention

Families randomized to this group will receive the intervention after the dyad completes both baseline and post intervention data collection.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Baylor College of Medicine

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,044

Recruited

6,031,000+

University of Pittsburgh

Collaborator

Trials

1,820

Recruited

16,360,000+

Findings from Research

Culinary medicine programs, which include teaching kitchens and gardens, have shown promising preliminary outcomes in improving health metrics like weight and cardiometabolic risk factors in pediatric patients dealing with obesity.

Participation in culinary medicine workshops has increased healthcare employees' confidence and knowledge in preparing whole plant-based meals, suggesting that such programs can enhance healthy lifestyle behaviors both in patients and healthcare providers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Teaching Kitchens and Culinary Gardens as Integral Components of Healthcare Facilities Providing Whole Person Care: A Commentary. Fals, AM., Brennan, AM.[2023]

Medical trainees who participated in the Cooking for Health Optimization with Patients (CHOP) program were 82% more likely to adopt a Mediterranean diet compared to those who received traditional nutrition education, indicating the program's effectiveness in promoting healthier eating habits.

CHOP participants also showed significantly improved competencies in lifestyle medicine counseling, suggesting that hands-on cooking education not only enhances dietary intake but also prepares future healthcare providers to incorporate nutrition into patient care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Multisite Culinary Medicine Curriculum Is Associated With Cardioprotective Dietary Patterns and Lifestyle Medicine Competencies Among Medical Trainees. Razavi, AC., Monlezun, DJ., Sapin, A., et al.[2021]

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]

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]

A 6-week culinary course led by medical students significantly improved participants' adherence to the Mediterranean diet, with a notable increase in overall diet scores among 1381 participants.

Participants showed increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and olive oil, while also developing a more positive attitude towards cooking, indicating that hands-on culinary education can effectively promote healthier eating habits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Multisite Medical Student-Led Community Culinary Medicine Classes Improve Patients' Diets: Machine Learning-Augmented Propensity Score-Adjusted Fixed Effects Cohort Analysis of 1381 Subjects. Stauber, Z., Razavi, AC., Sarris, L., et al.[2022]

In a study of 1447 participants across the U.S., those in the Stroke Belt (SB) identified greater barriers to adhering to the Mediterranean diet, such as convenience and sensory factors, compared to participants from other regions.

Weight loss was viewed as a significant benefit of the Mediterranean diet in the SB, while factors like price and familiarity were less influential, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to promote MedDiet adherence in this area.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Mediterranean Diet in the Stroke Belt: A Cross-Sectional Study on Adherence and Perceived Knowledge, Barriers, and Benefits. Knight, CJ., Jackson, O., Rahman, I., et al.[2020]

A 12-week nutritional intervention promoting the Mediterranean diet effectively modified food habits in 73 healthy women, demonstrating its efficacy in dietary change.

Women without children and those who planned food purchases based on discounts showed a significantly better response to the dietary advice, indicating that family status and shopping habits can influence the success of nutritional interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Factors influencing the dietary response to a nutritional intervention promoting the Mediterranean food pattern in healthy women from the Quebec City metropolitan area. Goulet, J., Lamarche, B., Lemieux, S.[2007]

Culinary medicine (CM) and culinary nutrition (CN) education can effectively enhance culinary skills and nutrition knowledge among health professionals and students, as evidenced by 33 studies reviewed.

There is a need for more research to determine the best ways to implement CM/CN programs and to evaluate their impact on the dietary habits of patients and clients influenced by these trained professionals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Culinary medicine and culinary nutrition education for individuals with the capacity to influence health related behaviour change: A scoping review. Asher, RC., Shrewsbury, VA., Bucher, T., et al.[2022]

References

1. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Teaching Kitchens and Culinary Gardens as Integral Components of Healthcare Facilities Providing Whole Person Care: A Commentary. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Multisite Culinary Medicine Curriculum Is Associated With Cardioprotective Dietary Patterns and Lifestyle Medicine Competencies Among Medical Trainees. [2021]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Healthy Teaching Kitchen Programs: Experiential Nutrition Education Across Veterans Health Administration, 2018. [2020]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of culinary interventions (cooking classes) on dietary intake and behavioral change: a systematic review and evidence map. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Multisite Medical Student-Led Community Culinary Medicine Classes Improve Patients' Diets: Machine Learning-Augmented Propensity Score-Adjusted Fixed Effects Cohort Analysis of 1381 Subjects. [2022]

6. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Mediterranean Diet in the Stroke Belt: A Cross-Sectional Study on Adherence and Perceived Knowledge, Barriers, and Benefits. [2020]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Factors influencing the dietary response to a nutritional intervention promoting the Mediterranean food pattern in healthy women from the Quebec City metropolitan area. [2007]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Culinary medicine and culinary nutrition education for individuals with the capacity to influence health related behaviour change: A scoping review. [2022]