A Fresh Start to a Healthier You! program improves fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of food insecurity: Findings from Texas

Objective

The goal of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) is to increase the likelihood that individuals with lower incomes who are eligible for SNAP benefits will choose healthy foods within a limited budget and be physically active. This study aimed to evaluate how participation in a Texas SNAP-Ed program A Fresh Start to a Healthier You! (Fresh Start) was associated with participants' fruit and vegetable consumption, use of food resource management strategies, and risk of food insecurity.

Methods

The study used survey data collected February 2021–September 2023 from counties across Texas. This single group pre/post evaluation used generalized linear models to assess changes in outcomes from baseline to program completion. Models adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and educational attainment.

Results

Participants who completed Fresh Start were 18–20 percentage points more likely to utilize food resource management strategies (average marginal effect [AME]: 18.2–20.0, p < 0.0001). The average change in being at risk of food insecurity decreased 3 percentage points (AME: 3.2, p = 0.012) following completion of Fresh Start. Measures of F&V intake significantly increased (AME: 6.7–36.3, p < 0.001), and the average number of days participants engaged in physical activity each week increased by 0.7 (AME: 0.7, p < 0.0001). Participation in Fresh Start was associated with improved food security, greater utilization of food resource management strategies, and increased fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity.

Conclusion

This study supports the use of SNAP-Ed and other nutrition education programs as one avenue to improve food security and diet behavior in households with lower incomes.