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Impact of Healthy Food Subsidies on Diet Quality and Food Security
Sponsor: University of Calgary
Summary
The British Columbia Farmers' Market Nutrition Coupon Program (FMNCP) provides lower-income households with coupons to purchase healthy foods at farmers' markets. This pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT) will examine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of two higher subsidies for healthy food ($54/weeek or $81/week), compared to the usual FMNCP healthy food subsidy ($27/week), on the diet quality (primary outcome), food insecurity, and other health-related outcomes of 276 parent-child dyads with lower incomes. 276 parent-child dyads who are enrolled in the FMNCP will be randomly assigned to one of the three subsidy arms. Participants will receive 16 weeks of coupons that can be redeemed for up to 20 weeks. Outcomes will be assessed in one parent (18-64 years) and child (6-17 years) from each household pre-, mid- and post-intervention.
Official title: Does the British Columbia Farmers' Market Nutrition Coupon Program Improve the Diet Quality and Food Security of Parents and Children With Lower Incomes? A Dose-response, Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
6 Years - 64 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
538
Start Date
2025-06-07
Completion Date
2025-12-16
Last Updated
2026-09-28
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Healthy food subsidy: $27/household/week
Participants receive 16 weeks of coupons valued at $27/week to purchase healthy foods at BC farmers' markets. Eligible foods include vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, vegetable and fruit plants, honey and herbs.
Healthy food subsidy: $54/household/week
Participants receive 16 weeks of coupons valued at $54/week to purchase healthy foods at BC farmers' markets. Eligible foods include vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, vegetable and fruit plants, honey and herbs.
Healthy food subsidy: $81/household/week
Participants receive 16 weeks of coupons valued at $81/week to purchase healthy foods at BC farmers' markets. Eligible foods include vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, vegetable and fruit plants, honey and herbs.
Nutrition skill-building
Participants are eligible, but not required, to attend optional nutrition skill-building activities (e.g. cooking and gardening classes).
Locations (1)
Participants recruited in 93 communities across British Columbia, Canada
Communities Across BC, British Columbia, Canada