Evaluate Grocery Store Access Influence on Food and Beverage Shopping Habits of Meal Kit Intervention Participants

BackgroundLow food access is defined as >1 mile and >10 miles from the nearest grocery store for urban areas (suburban/urban) and rural areas, respectively. Communities with low access have difficulty obtaining nutrient-dense foods as they are often also food deserts. Healthy meal kits (MK) can increase access to nutritious foods, especially in low-access areas.ObjectiveTo determine if grocery store (GS) access influenced food and beverages shopping habits of MK intervention participants.Study Design, Settings, ParticipantsFamilies with low income and ≥1 child, in rural (N=39), suburban (N=24), and two urban (N=47) communities received ingredients and instructions to prepare three dinner meals/week for six weeks. Participants completed a demographic survey at baseline and a consumer choice survey at baseline, after ≥1 month exposure to MK and at long-term follow-up (LTFU).Measurable Outcome/AnalysisDemographics, distance to a GS, food and beverages shopping habits were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was used to determine significance.ResultsParticipants (N=110) were non-Hispanic (95.5%) and female (91.8%) with an annual household income of <$35,000 (82.6%). In the rural community, participants (59.0%) had high GS access and while those in the suburban (83.3%) and urban communities (89.4%) had low access. After MK exposure, participants changed the frequency of their shopping habits at a supercenter (p=0.015), convenience store (p=0.022), and restaurant (p=0.023). Participants shopped less frequently at a supercenter, convenience store, and restaurant per week and month with no change in the shopping frequency for the supercenter and convenience store at LTFU. Participants shopped more frequently at a drug store (p=0.022), from an online grocery delivery/pick-up service (p=0.008), and restaurant (p=0.023) at LTFU.ConclusionOverall, participants with any access shopped less frequently at the supercenter, convenience store, and restaurant, and sustained those changes for supercenter and convenience store at LFTU. This suggests that participating in a meal kit program influences where and how often food is obtained during participation, but not after program cessation.FundingWalmart Foundation Low food access is defined as >1 mile and >10 miles from the nearest grocery store for urban areas (suburban/urban) and rural areas, respectively. Communities with low access have difficulty obtaining nutrient-dense foods as they are often also food deserts. Healthy meal kits (MK) can increase access to nutritious foods, especially in low-access areas. To determine if grocery store (GS) access influenced food and beverages shopping habits of MK intervention participants. Families with low income and ≥1 child, in rural (N=39), suburban (N=24), and two urban (N=47) communities received ingredients and instructions to prepare three dinner meals/week for six weeks. Participants completed a demographic survey at baseline and a consumer choice survey at baseline, after ≥1 month exposure to MK and at long-term follow-up (LTFU). Demographics, distance to a GS, food and beverages shopping habits were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was used to determine significance. Participants (N=110) were non-Hispanic (95.5%) and female (91.8%) with an annual household income of <$35,000 (82.6%). In the rural community, participants (59.0%) had high GS access and while those in the suburban (83.3%) and urban communities (89.4%) had low access. After MK exposure, participants changed the frequency of their shopping habits at a supercenter (p=0.015), convenience store (p=0.022), and restaurant (p=0.023). Participants shopped less frequently at a supercenter, convenience store, and restaurant per week and month with no change in the shopping frequency for the supercenter and convenience store at LTFU. Participants shopped more frequently at a drug store (p=0.022), from an online grocery delivery/pick-up service (p=0.008), and restaurant (p=0.023) at LTFU. Overall, participants with any access shopped less frequently at the supercenter, convenience store, and restaurant, and sustained those changes for supercenter and convenience store at LFTU. This suggests that participating in a meal kit program influences where and how often food is obtained during participation, but not after program cessation.