Produce Boxes for Food Insecurity
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
The goal of this pilot intervention study is to learn if providing weekly produce boxes helps college students who struggle to afford healthy food. It will also test if this program is practical to run on a college campus. The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Does receiving free produce boxes increase students' fruit and vegetable intake?
* Does the program improve students' food security and nutrient levels in the skin? Researchers will measure skin carotenoids (a marker of healthy eating) using a non-invasive finger scan called a Veggie Meter to see if the produce boxes improve nutrition biomarkers.
Participants will:
* Receive one free box of fresh fruits and vegetables plus printed nutrition education materials every week for 8 weeks.
* Visit the campus site at the start, week 4 and end of the study \[week 8\] for a finger scan, measure their weight and to complete surveys.
* Provide feedback on their experience with the produce boxes and their food access.
Who Is on the Research Team?
Joachim D. Sackey, PhD
Principal Investigator
Rutgers Health, Rutgers University
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
Inclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants receive one free box of fresh fruits and vegetables plus printed nutrition education materials every week for 8 weeks
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in skin carotenoid levels, food insecurity status, and diet quality
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Produce Boxes
How Is the Trial Designed?
1
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Participants receive one produce box per week for 8 consecutive weeks plus printed nutrition information. Each box contains approximately $40 worth of fresh fruits and vegetables selected for their high carotenoid content and dependent on seasonal availability. To monitor biological changes and adherence, participants undergo non-invasive skin carotenoid measurements using a Veggie Meter and complete surveys at baseline (Week 0), midpoint (Week 4), and study completion (Week 8).
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Lead Sponsor
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