Healthy options: a community-based program to address food insecurity

• Published in: Journal of prevention & intervention in the community Vol. 43; no. 2; p. 83
• Main Authors: Dailey, Amy B, Hess, Audrey, Horton, Camille, Constantian, Emily, Monani, Salma, Wargo, Betsy, Davidson, Kim, Gaskin, Kathy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 03.04.2015
• Subjects: Community Health Services - methods; Community-Based Participatory Research; Consumer Behavior; Food Supply; Fruit; Health Promotion - methods; Health Surveys; Hispanic Americans - psychology; Humans; Pennsylvania; Poverty; Vegetables; Pennsylvania; qualitative research; food insecurity; community-based participatory research; Hispanics
• ISSN: 1540-7330
• DOI: 10.1080/10852352.2015.973248

The objectives of this study are to better understand the lived experience of food insecurity in our community and to examine the impact of a community-based program developed to increase access to local, healthy foods. Participants were given monthly vouchers to spend at local farmers' markets and invited to engage in a variety of community activities. Using a community-based participatory research framework, mixed methods were employed. Survey results suggest that most respondents were satisfied with the program and many increased their fruit and vegetable consumption. However, over 40% of respondents reported a higher level of stress over having enough money to buy nutritious meals at the end of the program. Photovoice results suggest that the program fostered cross-cultural exchanges, and offered opportunities for social networking. Building on the many positive outcomes of the program, community partners are committed to using this research to further develop policy-level solutions to food insecurity.