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Table 2 Participant-generated intervention ideas for healthcare systems to address the barriers of affordability, accessibility and desirability of fruits and vegetables for food-insecure families, by socioecological (SE) level

From: Beyond clinical food prescriptions and mobile markets: parent views on the role of a healthcare institution in increasing healthy eating in food insecure families

Barrier(s) Addressed

Intervention Idea

SE Model Level

Description for Healthcare System Action

Affordability

Accessibility

Desirability

   

X

  

Advocacy:

Policies that make healthy food more affordable

Policy

Advocate for local or national policies to increase affordability of food (e.g. expanding food assistance programs), or overall budget for food (e.g. expanding affordable housing or childcare).

X

  

Advocacy: Tax-free healthy foods or Tax-free day

Work with local government to establish a tax-free policy for healthy food, or tax-free weekends for healthy food (similar to an existing back-to-school tax-free weekend popular with families in the region).

X

X

X

Accessible mobile markets

Community

Create more accessible, convenient mobile markets with low cost fruits and vegetables, or to distribute free food to families

X

X

X

Community gardens

Establish community gardens at schools or healthcare centers. Involve kids and use the garden as a teaching and volunteering opportunity for kids and parents.

  

X

Community events

Launch city-wide event to promote healthy eating with family-friendly, hands-on activities. Send doctors to existing community events to promote healthy eating and connect families to resources.

X

X

 

Healthy food distribution

Organizational (Healthcare Institutions)

Distribute free fruits and vegetables through providers at clinic visits and/or healthy eating classes or events.

X

  

Coupons for healthy food

Provide coupons for fruits and vegetables through providers at clinic visits or with an educational class. Important characteristics of the coupon include no expiration date, ability to use it at multiple locations, and broad eligibility for the coupon (i.e. eligibility would not be income-based, but need-based)

X

 

X

Office for healthy food

Create an office at the healthcare facility to distribute fruits and vegetables or coupons to families, as well as information about community food resources, nutrition and how to cook healthy, desirable meals.

X

  

Connect families to community resources

Establish an onsite navigator to connect families with broader community services (e.g. housing, childcare and food assistance programs.) Use a personalized approach with thorough and up-to-date knowledge of resources and eligibility rules by geographic area.

 

X

X

Fruit Baskets

Maintain clinic fruit baskets and allow children to pick piece of fruit after their visit.

  

X

Workshops/Group Classes

Family/

Individual

Offer hands-on nutrition workshops with emphasis on community partnerships, education and family involvement. Examples included freezer meal and meal preparation classes, and family cooking classes. One Spanish-speaking group also emphasized the need to educate parents on family planning, as large families impact ability to buy food.

  

X

Support Groups for Parents

Establish a group where parents can talk, network, and learn from each other about accessing community resources, preparing healthy food and budgeting.

  

X

Rewards Program

Create a program for children to earn rewards through the healthcare system for achieving healthy eating metrics.

  

X

Educational Handouts

Distribute educational handouts for healthy recipes or substitutions, including material for children with special health care conditions or dietary needs.