From the Page to the Plate: Designing an Accessible Nutrition Resource Through Community-Engaged Research

To assess the clarity, acceptability, and relevance of a digital "Nutrition Guide" designed to communicate principles of healthy eating in an accessible and engaging format for lay audiences.

This mixed-methods study employed survey data collection through the General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (GNKQ-R) and individual qualitative interviews with community members to inform revisions to the Nutrition Guide.

The study was conducted in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and focused on community engagement through community-engaged research methods.

A total of 36 adult participants without formal nutritional of medical training participated in the study. Twenty-six completed the GNKQ-R, and ten participated in qualitative interviews. Thematic saturation was reached with interview participants.

Survey results demonstrated foundational nutrition knowledge, notable gaps existed, including food labels and added sugar. Interviews revealed widespread appreciation for the Guide's visual layout, cultural inclusivity, and whole foods focus, and highlighted a desire for deeper content on gut health, supplements, and practical meal planning. Participants frequently sought more technical information than the Guide was designed to provide, raising important questions about scope, depth, and audience segmentation.

This study highlights the value of community-engaged design in creating accessible and appropriate nutrition educational resources. It also underscores the tension between simple content and nuanced scientific information in public resources, raising further considerations for opportunities in nutrition communication.