Comprando Rico y Sano: Increasing Latino Nutrition Knowledge, Healthful Diets, and Food Access Through a National...

Area of Science:

• Community Health
• Nutrition Education
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Low-income Latino adults face challenges in accessing nutritious food and possess lower health literacy.
• Culturally tailored interventions are crucial for addressing health disparities in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Comprando Rico y Sano (CRS) intervention on nutrition knowledge, food consumption, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment among low-income Latinos.
• To assess the impact of a community-based, promotores-led program on health behaviors and food access.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design with pre, post, and follow-up assessments was employed.
• The intervention involved 966 low-income Latino adults across 25 community sites.
• Nutrition knowledge, intentions, and dietary behaviors were measured via self-report surveys, alongside monthly SNAP enrollment data.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in nutrition knowledge were observed from pre-to-follow-up (P < .001).
• Participants showed improved intentions to consume more vegetables (P = .027) and home-prepared meals (P < .001).
• Fruit, vegetable, and home-prepared meal consumption frequency increased significantly from pre-to-follow-up (P < .001).
• Over 16 months, 24,359 Latinos enrolled for SNAP benefits.

Conclusions:

• Community-based, culturally relevant nutrition education and SNAP enrollment assistance programs are effective in improving health literacy and promoting healthier diets.
• Large-scale collaborations can enhance food access and address health disparities among Latino communities.