Evaluation of a Nutrition Education and Skills Training programme in vulnerable adults who are at high risk of food insecurity

Abstract

BackgroundIn Australia, the prevalence of food insecurity increased by 1.5% between 2014 and 2016 and 2018 and 2020 due to effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic. OzHarvest offers a 6‐week Nutrition Education and Skills Training (NEST) programme to adults at risk of food insecurity. NEST provides 2.5‐h weekly cooking workshops on simple, healthy and affordable meals. This study aimed to determine the immediate (post) and longer‐term (6 months) impacts of participation in NEST.MethodsA quasi‐experimental study with pre–post surveys (n = 258) and 6‐month follow‐up surveys (n = 20) was conducted from June 2019 to July 2022. Survey results were obtained from NEST programme participants (≥18 years) from six major Australian cities.ResultsParticipants demonstrated immediate improvement in nutrition knowledge (p < 0.001), food preparation behaviours (p < 0.001) and confidence and self‐efficacy (n = 222; p < 0.001). Intake of discretionary foods decreased (p < 0.001), whereas fruit, vegetable and water intake increased (p < 0.001). Food security improved from 57% to 68% immediately after the completion of the programme (p < 0.001). Participants demonstrated longer‐term improvements in nutrition knowledge (p < 0.001), cooking confidence (n = 8; p = 0.03), food preparation behaviours (p = 0.003) and increased vegetable (p = 0.03) and fruit intake (p = 0.01).ConclusionsParticipation in OzHarvest's NEST programme results in short‐term improvements in food security levels and dietary behaviours. Over the longer term, these changes were sustained but to a lesser degree, indicating that systemic changes are required to address underlying socio‐economic disadvantages.