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Community-based Meal Kit Program

Community-based Meal Kit Program

Evaluation
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Evaluation

During the developmental phase it is important to establish benchmarks or goals for the program and determine the best ways to assess the program efficacy in these areas. This helps to define the expected outcomes and provides a framework for assessing the program's efficacy. Below are tips for setting benchmarks or goals and assessing program efficacy:

  • Identify specific, measurable goals

    Goals should be specific and measurable, so that progress can be tracked and evaluated over time. For example, a goal might be to increase fruit and vegetable intake by 50% among program participants.

  • Establish a baseline

    Before implementing the program, establish a baseline measurement for each goal. This provides a starting point for evaluating progress and assessing the program's impact.

  • Use evidence-based measures

    Use evidence-based measures to evaluate the program's impact. For example, if the goal is to increase food security, use a validated survey or measurement tool to assess the change in food security status among program participants from baseline to post intervention.

  • Monitor progress

    Regularly monitor progress towards the established goals and adjust the program as needed to ensure that the program stays on track and achieves the desired outcomes.

  • Evaluate the program's impact

    Conduct a formal evaluation of the program's impact using the established measures. This can help to determine the program’s efficacy and identify areas for improvement.

Slice and Spice Program Evaluation Tools

There were several evaluation tools administered to the program's demographics. Expand each tool below to learn more.

Evaluation Tool

  •  MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status
  •  Child Mealtime Post-Survey
  •  Consumer Choice Survey
  •  Weekly Consumer Choice Survey
  •  18-Item USDA Food Security Survey Module
  •  Perceived Stress Scale
  •  sHEI Screener
  •  Health Screener
  •  Story Submission

MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status

Assesses perceived social status.

  • Demographic: meal kit recipients
  • Frequency: Baseline, Post-Intervention, and 6-Month Follow Up
  • Domains: social status
  • Related abstracts:
    • Yarborough, J., Chambers, K., Carmen, K., Ramirez Sierra, I., House, L., Mathews, A., Shelnutt, K. (2022). A Healthy Meal Kit Intervention Improves Subjective Social Status of Rural and Suburban Participants with Low-income. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 54 (7S), S86-S87.
  • Demographic: meal kit recipients
  • Frequency: Post-Intervention
  • Domains: mealtime behaviors
  • Related abstracts:
    • Najduch, E., Zambrano, R., Yarborough, J., Chambers, K., Ramirez Sierra, I., Mitchell, A., House, L., Mathews, A., Shelnutt, K. (2022). The Impact of Healthy Meal Kits on Child Meal Preparation and Enjoyment. University of Florida Undergraduate Research Symposium.
  • Demographic: meal kit recipients
  • Frequency: Baseline, Post-Intervention, and 6-Month Follow Up
  • Domains: willingness to pay and spending
  • Related abstracts:
    • Chambers, K., Carmen, K., Ramirez Sierra, I., Yarborough, J., Mitchell, A., House, L., Mathews, A., Shelnutt, K. (2022). Comparing Usage and Mean Satisfaction of Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian Meal Kit Recipes in Rural and Suburban Families. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 54 (7S), s88-S89.
  • Demographic: meal kit recipients
  • Frequency: Intervention (Weekly)
  • Domains: recipe usage, satisfaction, and willingness to pay, and spending
  • Related abstracts:
    • Carman, K., Sweeney, L. H., House, L. A., Mathews, A. E., & Shelnutt, K. P. (2021). Acceptability and Willingness to Pay for a Meal Kit Program for African American Families with Low Income: A Pilot Study. Nutrients, 13(8), 2881.
  • Demographic: meal kit recipients
  • Frequency: Baseline, Post-Intervention, and 6-Month Follow Up
  • Domains: food security
  • Related abstracts:
    • Chambers, K., Johns, T., Ramirez Sierra, I., Mitchell, A., House, L., Mathews, A., Shelnutt, K. (2023). Evaluate the Impact of a Healthy Meal Kit Intervention on Food Security and Fruit and Vegetable Intake at Post and Follow-up. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 55 (7S), 17-18.
  • Demographic: meal kit recipients
  • Frequency: Baseline, Post-Intervention, and 6-Month Follow Up
  • Domains: perceived stress
  • Related abstracts:
    • Mitchell, A., Chambers, K., Carmen, K., Ramirez Sierra, I., Yarborough, J., House, L., Mathews, A., Shelnutt, K. (2022). Perceived Stress in Rural and Suburban Dwelling Participants After a Meal Kit Intervention. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 55 (12S).
  • Demographic: meal kit recipients
  • Frequency: Baseline, Post-Intervention, and 6-Month Follow Up
  • Domains: diet quality
  • Related abstracts:
    • Badolato, M., Shelnutt, K., House, L., Chambers, K., Colee, J., Mathews, A. (2023). Skin Carotenoid Status May Provide Insight Into Overall Diet Quality in Adolescents. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 55 (7S), 56-57.
  • Demographic: meal kit recipients
  • Frequency: Baseline, Post-Intervention, and 6-Month Follow-Up
  • Domains: biometrics
  • Related abstracts:
    • Badolato, M., Shelnutt, K., House, L., Chambers, K., Colee, J., Mathews, A. (2023). Skin Carotenoid Status May Provide Insight Into Overall Diet Quality in Adolescents. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 55 (7S), 56-57.
  • Demographic: meal kit recipients
  • Frequency: Intervention and 6-Month Follow-Up
  • Domains: qualitative feedback
  • Related abstracts:
    • McNulty, E., Chambers, K., Zambrano, R., Ramirez, I., Mitchell, A., House, L., Mathews, A., Shelnutt, K. (2023). Evaluating Participant Recipe Changes in a Healthy Meal Kit Intervention for Families with Low Income. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 123(10), A18.
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