Participation in a Produce Prescription Observational Cohort Intervention Is Associated with Improvements in Child Fruit and Vegetable Intake

Top Things to Know

The program significantly boosted both fruit and vegetable consumption, demonstrating that providing consistent access to produce along with education can shift dietary patterns.

Culinary and nutrition classes helped caregivers learn to prepare produce in child‑friendly ways and overcome common barriers like picky eating and limited cooking knowledge.

Delivering medically relevant foods directly to households can overcome major access barriers, making nutrition support more widely availabe and more aligned with clinical treatment goals.

Summary of Conclusion/Findings

This observational cohort study evaluated a 6‑month family‑based produce prescription (PRx) program that provided biweekly home delivery of fruits and vegetables along with culinary and nutrition education. Participation was associated with significant increases in both fruit and vegetable intake among children. Median daily cup‑equivalent intake for both fruits and vegetables increased from baseline to post‑intervention, although overall intake still remained below recommended levels. Program retention was high (98%), and most caregivers reported high satisfaction with the intervention, with 94.9% “very” or “completely” satisfied. Education components likely contributed to improved caregiver confidence and child exposure to fruits and vegetables. Overall, the study supports that PRx participation modestly improves child dietary intake, though structural and behavioral barriers remain and further optimization is needed.