Abstract P213: Industry and Non-Profit Partnerships as an Effective Model for Implementation of Community-Based Nutrition Interventions

Introduction: Consuming fruits, vegetables and whole grains is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Community-based nutrition programs are an effective approach to changing attitudes and behaviors around food and health in underserved populations. The American Heart Association and Aramark launched Healthy for Life 20 by 20, a five-year initiative to increase fruits, vegetables and whole grains by 20 percent. A major focus of their collaboration was the development and implementation of a 12-week community-delivered nutrition engagement pilot. The purpose of this pilot was to evaluate the effectiveness of this health program in improving healthy food purchasing behaviors, nutrition and lifestyle choices. Methods: A 12-week pilot intervention was designed and implemented in three cities at five community centers March-June 2016. Weekly sessions were focused on enhancement of healthy cooking and shopping skills, nutrition education, and assessment of personal cardiovascular risk factors. Pa...