Abstract
Despite being surrounded by farms, rural families are often at risk for diet-related diseases because of food disparities. Barriers such as distance and transportation to a full service grocery store, lack of cooking knowledge and skills, and the cost of fresh produce, force families to shop at convenience stores that carry predominantly unhealthy, processed foods. We combined a Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program (F&VRx) with family cooking/nutrition classes and a pilot online produce shopping to promote lifestyle dietary changes in rural families. In 2 rural upstate New York communities school health staff referred low income families with one or more children at risk for chronic disease related to obesity for this pilot program. Each family was given a weekly online produce credit for 5months, September/October 2017 through January/February 2018. Two monthly nutrition/cooking lessons were provided for the entire family. Evaluation was done using pre and post program surveys and Photovoice. Families took photos in response to the question "How has the F&VRx program affected my family?". Redemption of online produce credit was 94% and class attendance was 80%. Fruit and vegetable consumption rose for children. Confidence, culinary skills, and food literacy increased slightly. Three months after program completion, 60% of the families continued weekly online produce shopping without the F&VRx. Healthy behaviors for shopping, preparing, and consuming fruits and vegetables can be increased using a F&VRx, online produce ordering, and family cooking classes.
Highlights
Despite being surrounded by farms, rural families are often at risk for diet-related diseases because of food disparities
Rural families and their children are at risk for diet-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma due to many factors, including the lack of access to fresh fruits and vegetables (FV), the high cost of fresh produce, (Buyuktuncer et al, 2013) and lack of skills to prepare produce for consumption
In this pilot program study, we evaluated another strategy: a Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program (F&VRx) coupled with an online produce market and family cooking/nutrition classes
Summary
Despite being surrounded by farms, rural families are often at risk for diet-related diseases because of food disparities. Healthy behaviors for shopping, preparing, and consuming fruits and vegetables can be increased using a F&VRx, online produce ordering, and family cooking classes Rural families and their children are at risk for diet-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma due to many factors, including the lack of access to fresh fruits and vegetables (FV), the high cost of fresh produce, (Buyuktuncer et al, 2013) and lack of skills to prepare produce for consumption. Relief of rural hunger and increasing access to healthy options has been attempted by introducing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), school backpack programs for children, and food pantries In this pilot program study, we evaluated another strategy: a Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program (F&VRx) coupled with an online produce market and family cooking/nutrition classes. Skills to prepare meals served at a future time have to be learned in order to reduce waste and add diversity to the family meal
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
