Home Plate: A Trial to Improve Home Food Preparation Practices Among Parents of Toddlers

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aims to test the effectiveness of a community-based, peer-mentored intervention to improve home food preparation practices in families with young children.

Detailed Description
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Barriers to healthy eating and active living are at the heart of the obesity epidemic. This study focuses on a key factor underlying healthy eating: home food preparation. This study aims to test the effectiveness of a community-based, peer-mentored intervention to improve home food preparation practices in families with young children. The investigators will partner with community-based organizations serving families with children ages 1 to 3 years in West Philadelphia aiming specifically to: Test the intervention's effect on diet and physical health. Hypothesis 1: The intervention group will have improved home food preparation practices and a healthier diet compared to the control group. Test the intervention's effect on family health. Hypothesis 2: The intervention group will report improved parenting skills and more hopeful patterns of thinking. Identify factors present at baseline and during engagement with the intervention that distinguish intervention participants who have improved diet, physical health, and family health from those who do not.

Official Title
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Home Plate: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Community-Engaged Intervention to Improve Home Food Preparation Practices and Health During Early Childhood

Conditions
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Obesity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Home Plate


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: mentees English-speaking Able to give informed consent. Legal guardian and caregiver of at least one child, age 1-3 years Inclusion Criteria: children 1-3 year old children of mentee primary caregivers enrolled in the study If a mentee caregiver has more than one child, then all their eligible children (ages 1-3 years) will be enrolled in the study. Inclusion Criteria: peer mentors Eligible peer mentors should meet the inclusion criteria set forth above for mentees. (Children of peer mentors will not be eligible for this study.) In addition, The study team will decide which participants will be invited to be peer mentors, based on attributes including interest, leadership ability, and home food preparation skills. Exclusion Criteria Caregivers and children not meeting the inclusion criteria above. Caregivers who are pregnant at the time of enrollment. Caregivers or children with a medical condition that significantly affects their diet or eating habits. (The study team will ask during the time of recruitment if subjects or their children have a medical condition that significantly affects diet or eating habits.) Subjects who, in the opinion of the Investigator, may be unable to participate in the study schedules or procedures.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Intervention<br>Behavioral: Home Plate intervention | Behavioral: Home Plate<br>* Home Plate is a community-based, peer mentored intervention aimed at improving home food preparation practices in families with young children. Through 6 classes, this intervention explores topics related to regularly preparing healthy foods at home.<br>|
| Experimental: Delayed Entry Control<br>This Arm will receive the Home Plate intervention 3 months after the Intervention Arm completes the intervention. | Behavioral: Home Plate<br>* Home Plate is a community-based, peer mentored intervention aimed at improving home food preparation practices in families with young children. Through 6 classes, this intervention explores topics related to regularly preparing healthy foods at home.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dietary Energy Density (Child Participants) | Child participants' 24-hour dietary recalls will be collected by trained study staff from adult caregivers. 24-hour dietary recalls will be collected on a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 separate days. The results will then be used to calculate the energy density of the child's diet. | 19-30 weeks from baseline | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Home Food Preparation Practices | Adult participants will complete surveys to assess the foods they usually prepare at home, as well as the time, energy, and confidence they have to prepare meals for their household. | 19-30 weeks from baseline | 
| Home Food Environment | Adult participants will complete surveys to assess the foods currently available in their homes, how they feel about managing food-related tasks, and the interactions they have with their child(ren) regarding food and eating. | 19-30 weeks from baseline | 
| Household Routines | Adult participants will complete surveys to assess their household routines related to activities such as sleep, physical activity, and screen time. | 19-30 weeks from baseline | 
| Emotional and Family Health | Adult participants will complete surveys to assess the their emotional health and the health of their families. | 19-30 weeks from baseline | 
| Body mass index | Heights and weights will be measured by trained study staff and will be used to calculate body mass index (BMI) of adult and child participants. | 19-30 weeks from baseline | 
| Dietary Energy Density (Adult Participants) | 24-hour dietary recalls will be collected by trained study staff from adult study participants. 24-hour dietary recalls will be collected on a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 separate days. The results will then be used to calculate dietary energy density. | 19-30 weeks from baseline | 
| Diet Quality | In addition to dietary energy density, 24-hour dietary recall data will be used to calculate both child and adult study participants' intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and added sugars. | 19-30 weeks from baseline | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Nutrition, Home Food Preparation, Home Food Environment, Early Head Start, Cooking, Diet, Peer Mentoring, Obesity