Comprando Rico y Sano: Increasing Latino Nutrition Knowledge, Healthful Diets, and Food Access Through a National Community-Based Intervention

Abstract

Purpose: Evaluation findings from Comprando Rico y Sano (CRS), a culturally relevant, community-based intervention addressing nutrition knowledge and food access are presented.

Design: No-control quasi-experimental intervention with pre, post, and follow-up assessments.

Setting: CRS was promotores-led through UnidosUS's Affiliate Network of community-based partners.

Sample: Low-income Latino adults (N = 966) receiving services at 25 partner sites.

Intervention: CRS was a six-hour intervention focused on nutrition knowledge and consumption of fruits, vegetables, and home-prepared meals. It also provided guidance for health-conscious grocery shopping, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) information, and enrollment assistance.

Measures: Self-report surveys assessed nutrition knowledge; intention to change; and frequency of fruit, vegetable, and home-prepared meal consumption. Sites reported monthly SNAP enrollment data.

Analysis: Paired-samples t-tests and repeated-measures ANOVAs assessed changes in knowledge, intentions, and behavior from pre-to-post (n = 960) and pre-to-follow-up (n = 115).

Results: Pre-to-follow-up increases in nutrition knowledge (P < .001) were observed. Intention to consume more vegetables (P = .027) and home-prepared meals (P < .001) also improved between pre- and follow-up. Increases from pre-to-follow-up were observed for frequency of consuming fruits (P = .007), vegetables (P = .001), and home-prepared meals (P < .001). Across 16 months, 24,359 Latinos enrolled for SNAP.

Conclusion: Large-scale community collaborations to deliver culturally relevant nutrition education and SNAP enrollment assistance can increase food access, health literacy, and promote healthful diets for Latinos.

Keywords: Hispanic/Latino adults; community health workers; food access; fruit and vegetable intake.