Which food prescription works best? a trial aims to find out

NCT ID NCT07770490

Disease control Sponsor: State University of New York at Buffalo Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Aug 18, 2026 · Last updated Aug 19, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial tests three types of food prescription programs—home-delivered produce boxes, healthy meal kits, and mobile market vouchers—to see which one families with young children use most and which best boosts kids' fruit and vegetable intake. Participants are families with children aged 2-6 who receive Medicaid and face food insecurity. Over six months, families receive their assigned program and complete surveys about food use, eating habits, and household food security, with follow-up six months later.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Food prescription programs: delivered produce prescription, delivered healthy meal kits, and mobile market vouchers
What this could lead to: If successful, this could identify the most effective way to deliver food prescriptions, potentially improving nutrition and food security for vulnerable families.
What could go wrong: The trial is relatively small and focuses on one region, so results may not apply broadly. Participation and adherence may vary, affecting outcomes.

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Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 225 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Jul 2026

Expected to finish

Dec 2029

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * parent or primary caregiver of a child aged 2-6 * child must receive Medicaid benefits * child must receive pediatric care at one of the study's 3 pediatric practice partners * participant must screen positive for food insecurity using the two-item food security measures on NYS Medicaid Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Health-Related Social Needs Screening Tool): 1.) Within the past 12 months, you worried that your food would run out before you got money to buy more (Often true, Sometimes true, Never true), and 2.) Within the past 12 months, the food you bought just didn't last and you didn't have money to get more (Often true, Sometimes true, Never true). * participant must be responsible for at least 50% of the household food shopping * participant must be able to store and prepare food in their home Exclusion Criteria: * families with severe food allergies * parents who report their child aged 2-6 is diagnosed with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD), or dysphagia * parents who report their child aged 2-6 is diagnosed with any conditions they feel would limit their child's eating/feeding to the point they are unable to participate in this study * individuals who do not speak English or Spanish fluently * households receiving nutrition services through NYS Medicaid 1115 waiver or similar free programs providing produce prescriptions or meal kits will be excluded until these free nutrition services end as these services would be duplicative of the interventions offered through this study

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Food insecurity Fruit and vegetable consumption in children Produce prescription program utilization

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

The places running it

1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
The official record

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Which food prescription works best? a trial aims to find out

What the study statuses mean