(P24-125-23) An Online Grocery Intervention Pilot To Improve Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Food Security Among SNAP-eligible Families

Objectives: Despite increased use of online grocery shopping among those with low-income, key barriers to healthy online purchases still exist, including fees, mistrust, loss aversion, and impulse purchasing. Thus, we pilot tested 4 strategies uniquely designed to support healthy online food shopping.

Methods: Adult caregivers who were the primary household food shopper and eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) were recruited at 5 Head Start centers in the Bronx, NY (Sep-Nov 22). Families (n=59) received 12-week free online grocery delivery and over 8 weeks were randomized to: 1) free delivery only; 2) weekly text messages targeting mistrust; 3) weekly $10 matching credit for fruit and vegetable (FV) purchases online; or 4) weekly texts of personalized menu plans with grocery list recommendations. Feasibility was assessed via creation of an online grocery account, and receipt of intervention materials via text. Acceptability was assessed via postintervention interviews and participants’ ratings of the intervention. FV intake was assessed using the National Cancer Institute Screener and household food security status using the 6-item USDA survey module at baseline and postintervention. Per the CONSORT for pilot trials, inferential statistics were not used for being underpowered to detect clinically significant differences.

Results: Participants were majority female (93%), aged 20-39 (81%), Hispanic (78%), and received SNAP (78%); 48% reported having previously shopped for groceries online. Feasibility was high: 72% created an online grocery account, 61% received and watched the online grocery shopping tutorial. 90% of participants reported that the tutorial helpful. All participants reported receiving text messages twice weekly, 93% deemed them helpful. From pre- to post-, online grocery uptake increased by 22% (mean 0.5±SD 0.5 to 0.7±0.4), household food insecurity decreased (4.0±2.0 to 3.5±2.2), vegetable intake increased (2.0±1.0 to 2.2±1.0), and trust of online grocery services increased (2.6±0.9 to 3.1±0.6).

Conclusions: The high feasibility and acceptability of these pilot strategies are promising for the development of a fully powered trial behavioral intervention to support healthy online food shopping.

Funding Sources: Institute of Human Development and Social Change at New York University