Project FRIENDS: A Qualitative Study on Food-Related Lived Experiences of Individuals With Low Income in New York State

Background Nutrition security, the consistent access and availability of affordable foods that promote a diet that supports optimal health, is a priority area in nutrition, yet more context is needed to understand its meaning and implications for nutrition science, practice, and policy. Objective The Food Research Initiative on the Experience of Nutrition Diversity and Security (Project FRIENDS) aims to generate and test hypotheses on food-related lived experiences and programming preferences to attaining nutrition security among adults eligible for federal food assistance programs. Study Design, Settings, Participants During the qualitative phase of this exploratory sequential mixed methods study, a purposive sample of New York residents eligible for food assistance benefits (n=26) participated in hour-long interviews via phone or video chat. Measurable Outcomes/Analysis An interview facilitation protocol was developed and pilot tested prior to conducting this study. The protocol assessed constructs such as food purchasing, food preparation, diet and healthy eating, among others. Audio recordings of interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using open, selective, and theoretical coding. Results Findings suggest that food-related strategies (ie, budgeting, modifying recipes) are central to efficiently acquire and consume adequate food in quantity and quality among study participants. These strategies may vary depending on participants’ life history (eg, cultural background, upbringing) and their food work stage (eg, food planning). For example, when purchasing food, study participants leveraged sales and discounts and a majority stored and repurposed food to avoid food waste. Overall, these strategies are strongly correlated with the support and resources available to participants (public assistance, transportation, etc). These strategies enable study participants and their family to access and eat more nutritious foods. Conclusion To achieve nutrition security in this population, our data supports the development of programs that prioritize the application of food-related strategies. The quantitative phase of Project FRIENDS will create and launch a statewide assessment that tests the association between the construct of food-related strategies and nutrition security while considering additional determinants (eg, capital, life history). Funding Engaged Grant, Einhorn Center for Community Engagement, Cornell University Nutrition security, the consistent access and availability of affordable foods that promote a diet that supports optimal health, is a priority area in nutrition, yet more context is needed to understand its meaning and implications for nutrition science, practice, and policy. The Food Research Initiative on the Experience of Nutrition Diversity and Security (Project FRIENDS) aims to generate and test hypotheses on food-related lived experiences and programming preferences to attaining nutrition security among adults eligible for federal food assistance programs. During the qualitative phase of this exploratory sequential mixed methods study, a purposive sample of New York residents eligible for food assistance benefits (n=26) participated in hour-long interviews via phone or video chat. An interview facilitation protocol was developed and pilot tested prior to conducting this study. The protocol assessed constructs such as food purchasing, food preparation, diet and healthy eating, among others. Audio recordings of interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using open, selective, and theoretical coding. Findings suggest that food-related strategies (ie, budgeting, modifying recipes) are central to efficiently acquire and consume adequate food in quantity and quality among study participants. These strategies may vary depending on participants’ life history (eg, cultural background, upbringing) and their food work stage (eg, food planning). For example, when purchasing food, study participants leveraged sales and discounts and a majority stored and repurposed food to avoid food waste. Overall, these strategies are strongly correlated with the support and resources available to participants (public assistance, transportation, etc). These strategies enable study participants and their family to access and eat more nutritious foods. To achieve nutrition security in this population, our data supports the development of programs that prioritize the application of food-related strategies. The quantitative phase of Project FRIENDS will create and launch a statewide assessment that tests the association between the construct of food-related strategies and nutrition security while considering additional determinants (eg, capital, life history).