Trial Outcomes & Findings for Free Living Food Waste Management and Diet Quality Improvement Using Smart Intervention and Food Image Application (NCT NCT05061888)

Results Overview

We will test if levels of household FV intake change significantly over 4 weeks among participants randomized to the control condition, which includes free FV provision and a placebo (stress management) intervention not focused on food waste. FV intake will be measured with the FoodImage app. FV intake will be quantified as the total number of servings of FV eaten per day, with FV servings defined by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED).

Recruitment status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

46 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

4 weeks

Results posted on

2025-08-13

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure	Food Waste Intervention Group This group will receive an intervention on food waste management and fruit and vegetable replacement to increase diet quality while avoiding an increase in calories. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use the FoodImage app to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date. Smart Intervention for Food Waste Management and Replacing current diet with Fruits and Vegetables: Will receive a Smart Intervention on Food Waste Management and replacing less healthy foods with fruits and vegetables.	Stress Management Control Group This group will receive an intervention on Stress Management and will be intensity matched to the treatment group. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use FoodImage to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date. Smart Intervention for Stress Managment: Will receive a Smart Intervention on stress management practices and strategies.
Overall Study STARTED	23	23
Overall Study COMPLETED	23	23
Overall Study NOT COMPLETED	0	0

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Free Living Food Waste Management and Diet Quality Improvement Using Smart Intervention and Food Image Application

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure	Food Waste Intervention Group n=23 Participants This group will receive an intervention on food waste management and fruit and vegetable replacement to increase diet quality while avoiding an increase in calories. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use the FoodImage app to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date. Smart Intervention for Food Waste Management and Replacing current diet with Fruits and Vegetables: Will receive a Smart Intervention on Food Waste Management and replacing less healthy foods with fruits and vegetables.	Stress Management Control Group n=23 Participants This group will receive an intervention on Stress Management and will be intensity matched to the treatment group. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use FoodImage to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date. Smart Intervention for Stress Management: Will receive a Smart Intervention on stress management practices and strategies.	Total n=46 Participants Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical <=18 years	0 Participants n=5 Participants	0 Participants n=7 Participants	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years	23 Participants n=5 Participants	23 Participants n=7 Participants	46 Participants n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical >=65 years	0 Participants n=5 Participants	0 Participants n=7 Participants	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Age, Continuous	49.7 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.2 • n=5 Participants	48.9 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.1 • n=7 Participants	49.3 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.1 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male Female	22 Participants n=5 Participants	21 Participants n=7 Participants	43 Participants n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male Male	1 Participants n=5 Participants	2 Participants n=7 Participants	3 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) American Indian or Alaska Native	0 Participants n=5 Participants	0 Participants n=7 Participants	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Asian	0 Participants n=5 Participants	1 Participants n=7 Participants	1 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander	0 Participants n=5 Participants	0 Participants n=7 Participants	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Black or African American	7 Participants n=5 Participants	7 Participants n=7 Participants	14 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) White	15 Participants n=5 Participants	15 Participants n=7 Participants	30 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) More than one race	1 Participants n=5 Participants	0 Participants n=7 Participants	1 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported	0 Participants n=5 Participants	0 Participants n=7 Participants	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment United States	23 participants n=5 Participants	23 participants n=7 Participants	46 participants n=5 Participants
Fruit and Vegetable intake	2.15 servings/day STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.5 • n=5 Participants	2.12 servings/day STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.9 • n=7 Participants	2.14 servings/day STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.8 • n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

We will test if levels of household FV intake change significantly over 4 weeks among participants randomized to the control condition, which includes free FV provision and a placebo (stress management) intervention not focused on food waste. FV intake will be measured with the FoodImage app. FV intake will be quantified as the total number of servings of FV eaten per day, with FV servings defined by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Food Waste Intervention Group n=23 Participants This group will receive an intervention on food waste management and fruit and vegetable replacement to increase diet quality while avoiding an increase in calories. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use the FoodImage app to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date. Smart Intervention for Food Waste Management and Replacing current diet with Fruits and Vegetables: Will receive a Smart Intervention on Food Waste Management and replacing less healthy foods with fruits and vegetables.	Stress Management Control Group n=23 Participants This group will receive an intervention on Stress Management and will be intensity matched to the treatment group. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use FoodImage to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date. Smart Intervention for Stress Management: Will receive a Smart Intervention on stress management practices and strategies.
The Impact of Free FV Provision on Household FV Intake.	0.72 servings/day Standard Deviation 1.67	-0.08 servings/day Standard Deviation 1.34

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

We will test if levels of household food waste change significantly over 4 weeks among participants randomized to the control condition, which includes free FV provision and a placebo (stress management) intervention not focused on food waste. Food waste will be measured with the FoodImage app. Food waste will be quantified as total grams of food waste per day.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Food Waste Intervention Group n=23 Participants This group will receive an intervention on food waste management and fruit and vegetable replacement to increase diet quality while avoiding an increase in calories. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use the FoodImage app to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date. Smart Intervention for Food Waste Management and Replacing current diet with Fruits and Vegetables: Will receive a Smart Intervention on Food Waste Management and replacing less healthy foods with fruits and vegetables.	Stress Management Control Group n=23 Participants This group will receive an intervention on Stress Management and will be intensity matched to the treatment group. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use FoodImage to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date. Smart Intervention for Stress Management: Will receive a Smart Intervention on stress management practices and strategies.
The Impact of Free FV Provision on Levels of Household Food Waste, Measured in Grams.	103.3 grams/day Standard Deviation 253.8	191.0 grams/day Standard Deviation 309.3

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

We will test if levels of household food waste change significantly over 4 weeks among participants randomized to the control condition, which includes free FV provision and a placebo (stress management) intervention not focused on food waste. Food waste will be measured with the FoodImage app. Food waste will be quantified as total calories of food waste per day.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Food Waste Intervention Group n=23 Participants This group will receive an intervention on food waste management and fruit and vegetable replacement to increase diet quality while avoiding an increase in calories. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use the FoodImage app to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date. Smart Intervention for Food Waste Management and Replacing current diet with Fruits and Vegetables: Will receive a Smart Intervention on Food Waste Management and replacing less healthy foods with fruits and vegetables.	Stress Management Control Group n=23 Participants This group will receive an intervention on Stress Management and will be intensity matched to the treatment group. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use FoodImage to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date. Smart Intervention for Stress Management: Will receive a Smart Intervention on stress management practices and strategies.
The Impact of Free FV Provision on Levels of Household Food Waste, Measured in Calories.	101.5 kcal/day Standard Deviation 327.6	141.5 kcal/day Standard Deviation 316.9

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed at baseline and post-intervention using data collected via the FoodImage app for three consecutive days prior to the first free fruit and vegetable pickup and three days following the final pickup. Intake was calculated in servings/day. Change is calculated as post-intervention value minus pre-intervention value, where positive values indicate an increase in intake and negative values indicate a decrease.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Food Waste Intervention Group n=23 Participants This group will receive an intervention on food waste management and fruit and vegetable replacement to increase diet quality while avoiding an increase in calories. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use the FoodImage app to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date. Smart Intervention for Food Waste Management and Replacing current diet with Fruits and Vegetables: Will receive a Smart Intervention on Food Waste Management and replacing less healthy foods with fruits and vegetables.	Stress Management Control Group n=23 Participants This group will receive an intervention on Stress Management and will be intensity matched to the treatment group. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use FoodImage to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date. Smart Intervention for Stress Management: Will receive a Smart Intervention on stress management practices and strategies.
Change in Fruit and Vegetable Intake With Smart Intervention Compared to Pre-intervention Baseline	0.85 servings/day Standard Deviation 0.27	-0.07 servings/day Standard Deviation 0.20

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

Diet quality will be assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-2020 (HEI-2020), a validated tool that measures adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better diet quality. The total HEI score is calculated based on intake data collected via the FoodImage app over a 3-day period before and after the 4-week Smart intervention. The intervention includes the free provision of fruits and vegetables (FV) and aims to reduce food waste and replace less healthy foods with FV.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Food Waste Intervention Group n=23 Participants This group will receive an intervention on food waste management and fruit and vegetable replacement to increase diet quality while avoiding an increase in calories. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use the FoodImage app to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date. Smart Intervention for Food Waste Management and Replacing current diet with Fruits and Vegetables: Will receive a Smart Intervention on Food Waste Management and replacing less healthy foods with fruits and vegetables.	Stress Management Control Group n=23 Participants This group will receive an intervention on Stress Management and will be intensity matched to the treatment group. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use FoodImage to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date. Smart Intervention for Stress Management: Will receive a Smart Intervention on stress management practices and strategies.
Change in Diet Quality (Healthy Eating Index) With Smart Intervention Compared to Pre-intervention Baseline	-2.77 Units on the Healthy Eating Index Standard Deviation 2.88	-1.93 Units on the Healthy Eating Index Standard Deviation 1.98

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

We will test if levels of FV plate waste change significantly over 4 weeks among participants randomized to the control condition, which includes free FV provision and a placebo (stress management) intervention not focused on food waste. FV plate waste will be measured with the FoodImage app. FV plate waste will be quantified as total grams of food waste per day.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Food Waste Intervention Group n=23 Participants This group will receive an intervention on food waste management and fruit and vegetable replacement to increase diet quality while avoiding an increase in calories. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use the FoodImage app to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date. Smart Intervention for Food Waste Management and Replacing current diet with Fruits and Vegetables: Will receive a Smart Intervention on Food Waste Management and replacing less healthy foods with fruits and vegetables.	Stress Management Control Group n=23 Participants This group will receive an intervention on Stress Management and will be intensity matched to the treatment group. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use FoodImage to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date. Smart Intervention for Stress Management: Will receive a Smart Intervention on stress management practices and strategies.
Determine if a Smart Intervention to Reduce Food Waste and Replace Less Healthy Foods With FV Significantly Increases FV Plate Waste Compared to Pre-intervention Baseline.	-22.2 grams/day Standard Deviation 13.2	11.7 grams/day Standard Deviation 6.9

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

We will test if a smart intervention to reduce food waste and replace less healthy foods with FV significantly reduces food waste over 4 weeks compared to a control (stress management) intervention. Both interventions include FV provision. Food waste will be measured with the FoodImage app. Food waste will be quantified as total grams of food waste per day.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Food Waste Intervention Group n=23 Participants This group will receive an intervention on food waste management and fruit and vegetable replacement to increase diet quality while avoiding an increase in calories. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use the FoodImage app to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date. Smart Intervention for Food Waste Management and Replacing current diet with Fruits and Vegetables: Will receive a Smart Intervention on Food Waste Management and replacing less healthy foods with fruits and vegetables.	Stress Management Control Group n=23 Participants This group will receive an intervention on Stress Management and will be intensity matched to the treatment group. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use FoodImage to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date. Smart Intervention for Stress Management: Will receive a Smart Intervention on stress management practices and strategies.
Determine if a Smart Intervention to Reduce Food Waste and Replace Less Healthy Foods With FV Significantly Reduces Household Level Food Waste, Measured in Grams, Compared to a Control Intervention.	84.87 grams/day Standard Error 41.18	167.19 grams/day Standard Error 60.8

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

We will test if a smart intervention to reduce food waste and replace less healthy foods with FV significantly reduces food waste over 4 weeks compared to a control (stress management) intervention. Both interventions include FV provision. Food waste will be measured with the FoodImage app. Food waste will be quantified as total calories of food waste.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Food Waste Intervention Group n=23 Participants This group will receive an intervention on food waste management and fruit and vegetable replacement to increase diet quality while avoiding an increase in calories. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use the FoodImage app to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date. Smart Intervention for Food Waste Management and Replacing current diet with Fruits and Vegetables: Will receive a Smart Intervention on Food Waste Management and replacing less healthy foods with fruits and vegetables.	Stress Management Control Group n=23 Participants This group will receive an intervention on Stress Management and will be intensity matched to the treatment group. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use FoodImage to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date. Smart Intervention for Stress Management: Will receive a Smart Intervention on stress management practices and strategies.
Determine if a Smart Intervention to Reduce Food Waste and Replace Less Healthy Foods With FV Significantly Reduces Household Level Food Waste, Measured in Calories, Compared to a Control Intervention.	78.23 kcal/day Standard Error 49.65	117.37 kcal/day Standard Error 66.33

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

Population: The intended outcome variable could not be quantified due to the poor quality of images and receipt scans from which the outcome variable would be generated.

We will test if levels of household FV acquisition change significantly over 4 weeks among participants randomized to the control condition, which includes free FV provision and a placebo (stress management) intervention not focused on food waste. FV acquisition will be measured with the Foodlmage app. FV acquisition will be quantified as the total number of servings of FV acquired by the household, with FV servings defined by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED).

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

Population: The intended outcome variable could not be quantified due to the poor quality of images and receipt scans from which the outcome variable would be generated.

We will test if a smart intervention to reduce food waste and replace less healthy foods with FV significantly increases FV acquisition over 4 weeks. The intervention includes free provision of FV. FV acquisition will be measured with the Foodlmage app. FV acquisition will be quantified as the total number of servings of FV acquired by the household, with FV servings defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED).

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

Adverse Events

Food Waste Intervention Group

Serious events: 0 serious events

Other events: 0 other events

Deaths: 0 deaths

Stress Management Control Group

Serious events: 0 serious events

Other events: 0 other events

Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Corby Martin

Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Phone: 225-763-2585

Email: [email protected]

Results disclosure agreements

Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
Publication restrictions are in place