Ours to eat and own: assessing the feasibility of a cooperative meal-kit service to improve food access
Abstract 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 devel...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Public Health Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1368980023002884/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797362159291727872 |
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| author | Joelle N Robinson-Oghogho Joel Gittelsohn Janice Bowie Lois Dankwa Roland J Thorpe |
| author_facet | Joelle N Robinson-Oghogho Joel Gittelsohn Janice Bowie Lois Dankwa Roland J Thorpe |
| author_sort | Joelle N Robinson-Oghogho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Abstract
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.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:03:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-54c3e0442e5a48a3b290c1ea8a8069fa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1368-9800 1475-2727 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:03:28Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Public Health Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-54c3e0442e5a48a3b290c1ea8a8069fa2024-01-08T09:03:49ZengCambridge University PressPublic Health Nutrition1368-98001475-27272024-01-012710.1017/S1368980023002884Ours to eat and own: assessing the feasibility of a cooperative meal-kit service to improve food accessJoelle N Robinson-Oghogho0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6091-1664Joel Gittelsohn1Janice Bowie2Lois Dankwa3Roland J Thorpe4Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Behavior and Society, Baltimore, MD 21205, USAJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, USAJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Behavior and Society, Baltimore, MD 21205, USAJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, Baltimore, MD, USAJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Behavior and Society, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA Abstract 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. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1368980023002884/type/journal_articleMeal kitsFood accessDietary interventionsFeasibility studyPilotCommunity-based |
| spellingShingle | Joelle N Robinson-Oghogho Joel Gittelsohn Janice Bowie Lois Dankwa Roland J Thorpe Ours to eat and own: assessing the feasibility of a cooperative meal-kit service to improve food access Public Health Nutrition Meal kits Food access Dietary interventions Feasibility study Pilot Community-based |
| title | Ours to eat and own: assessing the feasibility of a cooperative meal-kit service to improve food access |
| title_full | Ours to eat and own: assessing the feasibility of a cooperative meal-kit service to improve food access |
| title_fullStr | Ours to eat and own: assessing the feasibility of a cooperative meal-kit service to improve food access |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ours to eat and own: assessing the feasibility of a cooperative meal-kit service to improve food access |
| title_short | Ours to eat and own: assessing the feasibility of a cooperative meal-kit service to improve food access |
| title_sort | ours to eat and own assessing the feasibility of a cooperative meal kit service to improve food access |
| topic | Meal kits Food access Dietary interventions Feasibility study Pilot Community-based |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1368980023002884/type/journal_article |
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