P160 Does the Cooking Matters Curriculum Improve Participant Food Security?

Abstract

Background Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) has demonstrated improvement in nutrition behavior among participants. Food insecurity affects many SNAP-Ed participants, and questions remain about solutions. Further, disparities in food security are known to exist among racial groups. Objective To determine the effect of Cooking Matters (CM) curriculum on food security among SNAP-Ed participants in Florida stratified by race. Study Design, Settings, Participants CM is a six-week series offered by Florida SNAP-Ed and is evaluated using pre-post surveys. Food security is measured using the following question from the USDA Adult Food Security Module: “How often do you worry food will run out before you have money to buy more?” Participants answer using a five-point scale (Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often, Always). Nutrition behavior is measured using a Likert scale for weekly consumption of various food groups. Participants who completed six-week CM classes between November 2016 and October 2018 were included in the analysis (N = 687). Measureable Outcome/Analysis Food security change and changes in nutrition behavior were measured using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Results were then stratified by sociodemographic variables and analyzed using chi-square tests with pre-post food security change measured as a categorical variable (positive change, negative change and no change). Logistical regression was conducted using these same variables. Results Changes in food security were not significant overall (pre-mean = 3.27, post-mean = 3.24, Wilcoxon signed-rank test = 1977.5, P = .21), despite significant improvements in nutrition behaviors. Significant differences were found for race in food security change, as White Hispanics were more likely to show negative change compared to Whites. In contrast, fruit/vegetable and soda intake improved similarly among races. In regression models, the number of children in a household and age are significant predictors of improvement in food security. Conclusion These results demonstrate the inequitable nature of food insecurity with regards to race and the need for policy and environmental changes to accompany nutrition education. For Florida SNAP-Ed, nutrition education is being equitably delivered across races and ethnicities. However, work remains to be done to address food insecurity. Funding None.