Nutrition intervention of groceries for Black residents of Boston to stop hypertension (GoFresh) among adults with or without treated hypertension trial: rationale, design, and guiding domains

Top Things to Know

GoFresh shows that integrating cultural food preferences into medically tailored grocery programs increases acceptability and sustainability of DASH-based eating patterns.

Providing free, home-delivered groceries alongside nutrition education addresses both structural barriers (food deserts, cost) and behavioral barriers (knowledge gaps), reinforcing food as a clinical tool for chronic disease prevention.

By customizing grocery orders and involving family members, the intervention supports adherence and fosters household-level dietary change.

Summary of Conclusion/Findings

The GoFresh trial tested a culturally tailored, dietitian-assisted grocery intervention based on the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan among Black adults in Boston communities with limited access to healthy foods. Participants received home-delivered groceries aligned with DASH principles, personalized to their preferences, along with weekly counseling and educational modules. The program addressed barriers such as cost, accessibility, cooking skills, and cultural relevance through strategies like “store-to-door” delivery and “door-to-dish” support for meal preparation. Recipes were co-developed with local chefs, and participants engaged in motivational interviewing to promote adherence. While final adherence and blood pressure outcomes will be reported in future publications, the study demonstrates that medically tailored groceries combined with culturally sensitive counseling can overcome structural and behavioral barriers to healthy eating in real-world settings.