Supporting family meal frequency: Screening Phase results from the Simply Dinner Study

Jean M Kerver; Holly E Brophy-Herb; Julie Sturza; Mildred A Horodynski; Dawn A Contreras; Mara Stein; Erika Garner; Sheilah Hebert; Jessica M Williams; Niko Kaciroti; Tiffany Martoccio; Laurie A Van Egeren; Hailey Choi; Corby K Martin; Koi Mitchell; Danielle Dalimonte-Merckling; L Alexandra Jeanpierre; Chelsea A Robinson; Julie C Lumeng

doi:10.1016/j.appet.2022.106009

Supporting family meal frequency: Screening Phase results from the Simply Dinner Study

Appetite. 2022 Jul 1:174:106009. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.106009. Epub 2022 Mar 22.

Authors

Jean M Kerver¹, Holly E Brophy-Herb², Julie Sturza³, Mildred A Horodynski⁴, Dawn A Contreras⁵, Mara Stein⁶, Erika Garner⁷, Sheilah Hebert⁸, Jessica M Williams⁹, Niko Kaciroti¹⁰, Tiffany Martoccio¹¹, Laurie A Van Egeren¹², Hailey Choi¹³, Corby K Martin¹⁴, Koi Mitchell¹⁵, Danielle Dalimonte-Merckling¹⁶, L Alexandra Jeanpierre¹⁷, Chelsea A Robinson¹⁸, Julie C Lumeng¹⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, 909 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. Electronic address: kerverje@msu.edu.
² Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Michigan State University, 552 W Circle Drive, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. Electronic address: hbrophy@msu.edu.
³ Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. Electronic address: jmigrin@umich.edu.
⁴ College of Nursing, Michigan State University, 1355 Bogue St, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. Electronic address: millie@msu.edu.
⁵ Michigan State University Extension, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. Electronic address: contrer7@msu.edu.
⁶ Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Michigan State University, 552 W Circle Drive, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. Electronic address: steint@msu.edu.
⁷ Michigan State University Extension, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. Electronic address: prineeri@msu.edu.
⁸ Michigan State University Extension, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. Electronic address: murphysh@msu.edu.
⁹ Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Michigan State University, 552 W Circle Drive, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. Electronic address: will3208@msu.edu.
¹⁰ Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. Electronic address: nicola@med.umich.edu.
¹¹ Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA. Electronic address: tiffany.martoccio@gmail.com.
¹² University Outreach and Engagement, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. Electronic address: vanegere@msu.edu.
¹³ Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, USA. Electronic address: choihy15@msu.edu.
¹⁴ Pennington Biomedical Research Institution, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA. Electronic address: corby.martin@pbrc.edu.
¹⁵ Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Michigan State University, 552 W Circle Drive, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. Electronic address: mitch777@msu.edu.
¹⁶ Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Michigan State University, 552 W Circle Drive, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. Electronic address: dalimonte.d@gmail.com.
¹⁷ Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. Electronic address: ajeanp@umich.edu.
¹⁸ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, 909 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
¹⁹ Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. Electronic address: jlumeng@umich.edu.

Abstract

We aimed to test main, additive, interactive effects, and feasibility of all possible combinations of six intervention components implemented for 8 weeks (Cooking/Serving Resources; Meal Delivery; Ingredient Delivery; Community Kitchen; Nutrition Education; Cooking Demonstrations). Primary outcomes were family meal frequency and preschoolers' dietary quality; secondary outcomes included family meal preparation type, meal preparation barriers, family functioning, and kitchen inventory adequacy. All possible intervention combinations were tested using a randomized factorial trial design in the first phase of a Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST). Feasibility was assessed via attendance, delivery logs, and satisfaction. Parent-reported data collection included: socio-demographics, frequency and type of family meals; preschooler dietary intake; perceived barriers to meal planning and preparation; assessment of family functioning; and a kitchen inventory of materials generally needed for meal preparation. Participants (n = 499) were recruited at two Head Start agencies in mid-Michigan with data collection and delivery of some intervention components in participants' homes. Promising intervention bundles were identified by evaluating pre-to post-intervention effect sizes. The combination of Cooking/Serving Resources and Meal Delivery increased family meal frequency (Cohen's d = 0.17), cooking dinner from scratch (d = 0.21), prioritization of family meals (d = 0.23), and kitchen inventory (d = 0.46) and decreased use/consumption of ready-made (d = -0.18) and fast foods (d = -0.23). Effects on diet quality were in the expected direction but effect sizes were negligible. Community Kitchen, Nutrition Education, and Cooking Demonstration showed poor feasibility due to low attendance while Ingredient Delivery was infeasible due to staffing challenges related to its labor intensity. Additionally, although not one of our pre-specified outcomes, Cooking/Serving Resources (RR = 0.74) and Meal Delivery (RR = 0.73) each decreased food insecurity. Cooking/Serving Resources combined with Meal Delivery showed promise as a strategy for increasing family meal frequency.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02487251.

Keywords: Head start; Low-income preschoolers; MOST; Multiphase optimization strategy; Obesity prevention.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Cooking
Diet
Fast Foods
Health Promotion* / methods
Humans
Meals*

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02487251

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Associated data

Grants and funding