Nourishing change in Houston, Texas: exploring grocery shopping behaviours and fruit and vegetable consumption among low-income families in the Brighter Bites program
Abstract Objective: We qualitatively examine the grocery shopping behaviours and fruit and vegetable consumption of low-income families participating in the Brighter Bites program in Houston, Texas. Design: We used a single-group observational study design. We used (1) purposive sampling of scho...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Public Health Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S136898002400260X/type/journal_article |
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| author | Victoria Kwentua Allison Marshall Ru-Jye Chuang Jessica Chen Christine Markham Mallika Mathur Mike Pomeroy Megan Hall Shreela Sharma |
| author_facet | Victoria Kwentua Allison Marshall Ru-Jye Chuang Jessica Chen Christine Markham Mallika Mathur Mike Pomeroy Megan Hall Shreela Sharma |
| author_sort | Victoria Kwentua |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Abstract
Objective:
We qualitatively examine the grocery shopping behaviours and fruit and vegetable consumption of low-income families participating in the Brighter Bites program in Houston, Texas.
Design:
We used a single-group observational study design. We used (1) purposive sampling of schools and (2) convenience sampling of parents/caregivers to recruit participants. Research staff conducted three face-to-face qualitative focus groups in Spanish and English. Transcripts were coded using deductive and inductive reasoning.
Setting:
Three elementary schools serving low-income families in Houston, Texas, in February-May of 2022.
Participants:
Brighter Bites parents/caregivers from the 2021–2022 school year.
Results:
Three primary themes emerged: (1) child involvement in grocery shopping – most parents/caregivers shop with their children. Children sometimes bring their own grocery lists, select their produce or help by counting produce; (2) the importance of balancing quality and affordability of fruits and vegetables purchased – both when selecting stores and choosing produce; (3) exposure to new varieties and higher quality of fruits and vegetables through Brighter Bites programming – parents/caregivers reported purchasing new fruits and vegetables as a result of participating in Brighter Bites.
Conclusion:
Findings can inform nutrition education programming and policies targeting fruit and vegetable consumption for low-income families. Child involvement may be a good target for nutrition-based behaviour change programs. Nutrition programs and policies should consider both produce affordability and quality. Exposure and opportunities to try new fruits and vegetables can lead to future purchases of new produce. Findings can also inform grocery stores’ efforts to understand low-income families’ purchasing habits, preferences and priorities.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-98ee0150ec714de2a29859ec165de73b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1368-9800 1475-2727 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Public Health Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-98ee0150ec714de2a29859ec165de73b2025-02-12T06:03:38ZengCambridge University PressPublic Health Nutrition1368-98001475-27272025-01-012810.1017/S136898002400260XNourishing change in Houston, Texas: exploring grocery shopping behaviours and fruit and vegetable consumption among low-income families in the Brighter Bites programVictoria Kwentua0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6990-3094Allison Marshall1Ru-Jye Chuang2Jessica Chen3Christine Markham4Mallika Mathur5Mike Pomeroy6Megan Hall7Shreela Sharma8Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USADepartment of Human Science, Georgetown University School of Health, Washington, DC 20007, USADepartment of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Science, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USABrighter Bites, Houston, TX, USADepartment of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USADepartment of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Science, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USABrighter Bites, Houston, TX, USABrighter Bites, Houston, TX, USADepartment of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Science, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA The Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, 1200 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA Abstract Objective: We qualitatively examine the grocery shopping behaviours and fruit and vegetable consumption of low-income families participating in the Brighter Bites program in Houston, Texas. Design: We used a single-group observational study design. We used (1) purposive sampling of schools and (2) convenience sampling of parents/caregivers to recruit participants. Research staff conducted three face-to-face qualitative focus groups in Spanish and English. Transcripts were coded using deductive and inductive reasoning. Setting: Three elementary schools serving low-income families in Houston, Texas, in February-May of 2022. Participants: Brighter Bites parents/caregivers from the 2021–2022 school year. Results: Three primary themes emerged: (1) child involvement in grocery shopping – most parents/caregivers shop with their children. Children sometimes bring their own grocery lists, select their produce or help by counting produce; (2) the importance of balancing quality and affordability of fruits and vegetables purchased – both when selecting stores and choosing produce; (3) exposure to new varieties and higher quality of fruits and vegetables through Brighter Bites programming – parents/caregivers reported purchasing new fruits and vegetables as a result of participating in Brighter Bites. Conclusion: Findings can inform nutrition education programming and policies targeting fruit and vegetable consumption for low-income families. Child involvement may be a good target for nutrition-based behaviour change programs. Nutrition programs and policies should consider both produce affordability and quality. Exposure and opportunities to try new fruits and vegetables can lead to future purchases of new produce. Findings can also inform grocery stores’ efforts to understand low-income families’ purchasing habits, preferences and priorities. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S136898002400260X/type/journal_articleGrocery shopping behavioursDietary behaviour changeNutrition programsSchool nutrition interventionsFruit vegetable consumption |
| spellingShingle | Victoria Kwentua Allison Marshall Ru-Jye Chuang Jessica Chen Christine Markham Mallika Mathur Mike Pomeroy Megan Hall Shreela Sharma Nourishing change in Houston, Texas: exploring grocery shopping behaviours and fruit and vegetable consumption among low-income families in the Brighter Bites program Public Health Nutrition Grocery shopping behaviours Dietary behaviour change Nutrition programs School nutrition interventions Fruit vegetable consumption |
| title | Nourishing change in Houston, Texas: exploring grocery shopping behaviours and fruit and vegetable consumption among low-income families in the Brighter Bites program |
| title_full | Nourishing change in Houston, Texas: exploring grocery shopping behaviours and fruit and vegetable consumption among low-income families in the Brighter Bites program |
| title_fullStr | Nourishing change in Houston, Texas: exploring grocery shopping behaviours and fruit and vegetable consumption among low-income families in the Brighter Bites program |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nourishing change in Houston, Texas: exploring grocery shopping behaviours and fruit and vegetable consumption among low-income families in the Brighter Bites program |
| title_short | Nourishing change in Houston, Texas: exploring grocery shopping behaviours and fruit and vegetable consumption among low-income families in the Brighter Bites program |
| title_sort | nourishing change in houston texas exploring grocery shopping behaviours and fruit and vegetable consumption among low income families in the brighter bites program |
| topic | Grocery shopping behaviours Dietary behaviour change Nutrition programs School nutrition interventions Fruit vegetable consumption |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S136898002400260X/type/journal_article |
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