TY - JOUR
T1 - Ours to eat and own
T2 - assessing the feasibility of a cooperative meal-kit service to improve food access
AU - Robinson-Oghogho, Joelle N.
AU - Gittelsohn, Joel
AU - Bowie, Janice
AU - Dankwa, Lois
AU - Thorpe, Roland J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Objective: Although typically serving higher income and younger demographic groups, meal-kit subscription services have the potential to improve food availability and dietary quality in communities experiencing low food access due to systemic discrimination. This study describes the development and characteristics of a pilot community-led meal-kit service (SouthEats) and evaluates key implementation outcomes of adoption, acceptability, and feasibility among households experiencing less income. Design: We utilised a mixed methods study design, including data from administrative records, customer surveys and worker interviews. Thematic qualitative analyses and descriptive quantitative analyses were conducted to illuminate the characteristics and extent the pilot meal-kit service was adopted, acceptable, and financially feasible among the target populations. Setting: The study took place in Washington DC, USA. Participants: Study participants included SouthEats consumers (n 35) and workers (n 3). Results: During the pilot period, sixty-seven community members signed up for the meal-kit service, with 52 % making recurring purchases. Our results suggest that the meal-kit service is acceptable among people living in low food access areas. Our feasibility analysis indicates that, although not without challenges, the SouthEats model could be financially feasible. Conclusion: These preliminary insights can inform the scalability and potential replication of this service and provide foundational evidence for an approach that may be used to improve food access.
AB - Objective: Although typically serving higher income and younger demographic groups, meal-kit subscription services have the potential to improve food availability and dietary quality in communities experiencing low food access due to systemic discrimination. This study describes the development and characteristics of a pilot community-led meal-kit service (SouthEats) and evaluates key implementation outcomes of adoption, acceptability, and feasibility among households experiencing less income. Design: We utilised a mixed methods study design, including data from administrative records, customer surveys and worker interviews. Thematic qualitative analyses and descriptive quantitative analyses were conducted to illuminate the characteristics and extent the pilot meal-kit service was adopted, acceptable, and financially feasible among the target populations. Setting: The study took place in Washington DC, USA. Participants: Study participants included SouthEats consumers (n 35) and workers (n 3). Results: During the pilot period, sixty-seven community members signed up for the meal-kit service, with 52 % making recurring purchases. Our results suggest that the meal-kit service is acceptable among people living in low food access areas. Our feasibility analysis indicates that, although not without challenges, the SouthEats model could be financially feasible. Conclusion: These preliminary insights can inform the scalability and potential replication of this service and provide foundational evidence for an approach that may be used to improve food access.
KW - Community-based
KW - Dietary interventions
KW - Feasibility study
KW - Food access
KW - Meal kits
KW - Pilot
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85180989076&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85180989076&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S1368980023002884
DO - 10.1017/S1368980023002884
M3 - Article
C2 - 38126279
AN - SCOPUS:85180989076
SN - 1368-9800
VL - 27
JO - Public health nutrition
JF - Public health nutrition
IS - 1
M1 - 2300288
ER -