TY - JOUR
T1 - A behavioural economics approach to improving healthy food selection among food pantry clients
AU - Caspi, Caitlin E
AU - Canterbury, Marna
AU - Carlson, Samantha
AU - Bain, Jamie
AU - Bohen, Laura
AU - Grannon, Katherine
AU - Peterson, Hikaru H
AU - Kottke, Thomas E
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Authors.
PY - 2019/8/1
Y1 - 2019/8/1
N2 - Objective To test the effect of a behavioural economics intervention in two food pantries on the nutritional quality of foods available at the pantries and the foods selected by adults visiting food pantries.Design An intervention (SuperShelf) was implemented in two food pantries (Sites A and B), with two other pantries (Sites C and D) serving as a control for pantry outcomes. The intervention aimed to increase the amount and variety of healthy foods (supply), as well as the appeal of healthy foods (demand) using behavioural economics strategies. Assessments included baseline and 4-month follow-up client surveys, client cart inventories, pantry inventories and environmental assessments. A fidelity score (range 0-100) was assigned to each intervention pantry to measure the degree of implementation. A Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) score (range 0-100) was generated for each client cart and pantry.Setting Four Minnesota food pantries, USA.Participants Clients visiting intervention pantries before (n 71) and after (n 70) the intervention.Results Fidelity scores differed by intervention site (Site A=82, Site B=51). At Site A, in adjusted models, client cart HEI-2010 scores increased on average by 11·8 points (P<0·0001), whereas there was no change at Site B. HEI-2010 pantry environment scores increased in intervention pantries (Site A=8 points, Site B=19 points) and decreased slightly in control pantries (Site C=-4 points, Site D=-3 points).Conclusions When implemented as intended, SuperShelf has the potential to improve the nutritional quality of foods available to and selected by pantry clients.
AB - Objective To test the effect of a behavioural economics intervention in two food pantries on the nutritional quality of foods available at the pantries and the foods selected by adults visiting food pantries.Design An intervention (SuperShelf) was implemented in two food pantries (Sites A and B), with two other pantries (Sites C and D) serving as a control for pantry outcomes. The intervention aimed to increase the amount and variety of healthy foods (supply), as well as the appeal of healthy foods (demand) using behavioural economics strategies. Assessments included baseline and 4-month follow-up client surveys, client cart inventories, pantry inventories and environmental assessments. A fidelity score (range 0-100) was assigned to each intervention pantry to measure the degree of implementation. A Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) score (range 0-100) was generated for each client cart and pantry.Setting Four Minnesota food pantries, USA.Participants Clients visiting intervention pantries before (n 71) and after (n 70) the intervention.Results Fidelity scores differed by intervention site (Site A=82, Site B=51). At Site A, in adjusted models, client cart HEI-2010 scores increased on average by 11·8 points (P<0·0001), whereas there was no change at Site B. HEI-2010 pantry environment scores increased in intervention pantries (Site A=8 points, Site B=19 points) and decreased slightly in control pantries (Site C=-4 points, Site D=-3 points).Conclusions When implemented as intended, SuperShelf has the potential to improve the nutritional quality of foods available to and selected by pantry clients.
KW - Behavioural economics
KW - Food insecurity
KW - Food pantries
KW - Healthy Eating Index-2010
KW - Intervention
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U2 - 10.1017/S1368980019000405
DO - 10.1017/S1368980019000405
M3 - Article
C2 - 30859921
AN - SCOPUS:85062988896
SN - 1368-9800
VL - 22
SP - 2303
EP - 2313
JO - Public health nutrition
JF - Public health nutrition
IS - 12
ER -