This report summarizes the baseline findings of the “Feeding the Family” study, a pragmatic randomized controlled trial (pRCT) examining Food is Medicine (FIM) interventions aimed at reducing food and nutrition insecurity among households. The study investigates whether providing tailored food options—such as medically tailored meals (MTMs) and grocery prescriptions (GP)—alongside nutrition counseling can positively influence clinical outcomes for both children and caregivers.
Participants were recruited from an urban primary care clinic and randomly assigned to one of four groups for a three-month intervention: (1) MTMs, (2) GP, (3) a combination of MTMs and GP, or (4) a delayed control. The primary focus was on clinical biomarkers, including BMI, blood pressure, HbA1c, LDL, and HDL levels. Secondary outcomes involved dietary behaviors, and measures of nutrition and food security.
A total of 31 caregivers and 51 children participated, with nearly 90% of caregivers reporting low to very low household food security, and over 93% experiencing ongoing financial hardship. Baseline analysis revealed significant correlations between caregiver and child biomarkers: BMI showed a moderate positive correlation (r=0.59), caregiver LDL cholesterol was inversely related to child HbA1c (r=-0.79), and caregiver total cholesterol was negatively associated with child BMI (r=-0.62). Additionally, food assistance status correlated with increased child vegetable intake, and caregiver food security scores were linked to child food security levels.
These findings highlight strong associations between caregiver and child health markers at baseline, emphasizing the interconnectedness of household health and food security. The results support the importance of household-focused FIM interventions in addressing health disparities, suggesting that tailored programs could effectively improve health outcomes across entire families. Further research is needed to determine how such interventions can be optimized to enhance clinical outcomes and reduce disparities in vulnerable populations.
Reference:
Drucker G, Mayfield C, Steeves EA, Maksi S, Underwood T, Brown J, Frick M, Gustafson A. Feeding the Family-A Food Is Medicine Intervention: Preliminary Baseline Results of Clinical Data from Caregivers and Children. Nutrients. 2026 ;18(2):354. doi: 10.3390/nu18020354. PMID: 41599967; PMCID: PMC12844788.
