The Effectiveness of the Good Affordable Food Intervention for Adults with Low Socioeconomic Status and Small Incomes

Kathelijne M.H.H. Bessems, Evelyne Linssen, Marion Lomme and Patricia Van Assema
Additional contact information
Kathelijne M.H.H. Bessems: NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
Evelyne Linssen: Department of Knowledge & Innovation, Public Health Service South Limburg, P.O. Box 33, 6400 AA Heerlen, The Netherlands
Marion Lomme: Dietician Practice Lomme, Lichtenberg 27, 6151BS Munstergeleen, The Netherlands
Patricia Van Assema: NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200MD Maastricht, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-15

Abstract: Good Affordable Food (GAF) is a small-group nutrition education intervention for adults with low socioeconomic status and small incomes. It aims to empower participants to save money on groceries and consume healthier diets. This paper reports the short-term and longer-term effects on behavioural determinants and self-reported behavioural changes. A quasi-experimental control group design was applied with a baseline measurement, a post-test immediately after the intervention, and a follow-up measurement after six months. The study included 237 participants (intervention group: n = 131; control group: n = 106) at baseline, 197 at post-test, and 152 at follow-up. Data were collected by telephone, mostly using closed interview questions. Positive short-term and longer-term effects were found for attitude towards the costs of healthy foods, food label use, and the use of liquid butter or oil to prepare hot meals. Short-term intervention effects related to knowledge towards saving money on groceries, self-efficacy towards healthy eating, portion size awareness, and mindful eating. GAF was effective in changing some determinants and behaviours related to cost and food consumption, however, mostly in the short term. Thereby, it is an example of combining pricing and health information in nutrition education that developers of effective nutrition education for low-income groups can build on.

Keywords: nutrition education; low socioeconomic status; nutrition literacy; procedural knowledge; determinants (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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