Families with low incomes face barriers to preparing healthy meals, including decreased food access and limited time, and may turn to fast, low-quality, and inexpensive foods. Affordable and accessible meal kits may reduce these barriers. The objective of this study was to explore the cooking, eating, and shopping behaviors of African American (AA) and Hispanic participants living in the United States with low incomes and determine the knowledge of and preferences for a culturally appropriate meal kit intervention. Trained researchers conducted focus groups using a semi-structured questionnaire with AA and Hispanic food preparers with low incomes. Participant cooking, eating, and shopping behaviors and knowledge of and preferences for a culturally appropriate meal kit intervention were evaluated using thematic analysis. AA participants (N = 16) reported cooking on average 2 to 3 days per week and more often on weekends. Hispanic participants (N = 15) reported cooking 5 days per week and more often during the week. Both groups identified cost as the number one consideration when shopping. Most were unfamiliar with meal kits but indicated they would try an affordable meal kit. AA and Hispanic participants differed in their cooking, eating, and shopping behaviors but were equally interested in trying meal kits if affordable and culturally appropriate.

Children living in food-insecure households have poorer overall health than children in food-secure households. While U.S. nutrition assistance programs provide resources, these cannot consistently offer age-appropriate nutritional foods for young children. This study aimed to determine community stakeholders’ perceptions of the barriers and facilitators to obtaining adequate, high-quality, and age-appropriate foods for children ages 0–3 in Florida before and during COVID-19. Community stakeholders (n = 32) participated in a 60 min interview via Zoom using a semi-structured script based on the PRECEDE component of the PRECEDE–PROCEED model. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded by two researchers using a thematic analysis approach. Stakeholders’ perceptions revealed a lack of awareness surrounding eligibility for assistance programs, a lack of knowledge regarding how to obtain resources and services, and stigma associated with receiving benefits. These remained significant barriers to obtaining healthful foods for households with young children before and during COVID-19. Nonetheless, barriers were exacerbated during the pandemic. Unemployment rates rose, intensifying these households’ financial hardships and food insecurity levels. Likewise, stakeholders suggested the need for families to become more aware of federal assistance eligibility requirements and available opportunities via social media and referrals. Identifying risk factors associated with food insecurity can inform future interventions to safeguard young children’s health and well-being.

Objectives With the recent addition of nutrition guidance for children under the age of 2 years to the 2020 Dietary Guidelines, new strategies are needed to communicate reputable feeding information to parents of infants and toddlers for optimal nutrition and prevention of early childhood obesity. The objective of this study was to determine usability of a mHealth app prototype (BabyByte) containing early childhood feeding guidance based on recommended responsive feeding practices for parents of children ages 0 to 2 years old. Methods Parents participated in one-on-one cognitive interviews about the basic use and navigation of BabyByte and were probed to locate specific sections within the app, read the information on each page, and complete interactive tasks. Interviews were conducted by a trained research assistant and recorded via Zoom software. Each participant also completed the mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) to rate overall usability, ease of use, interface satisfaction, and usefulness based on a 7-point Likert Scale. Mean MAUQ scores were calculated, with higher scores indicating higher usability of the app. Interview audio files were transcribed verbatim and response themes were aggregated using a content analysis approach. Results Parents (n = 20) were, on average, 30.7 years old with the majority self-reporting as white (95%), Hispanic (55%), having a bachelor's degree or higher (65%), working full-time (55%), and currently married (80%). On average, parents agreed or strongly agreed (6.5 ± 0.7 out of 7) that the app had high usability based on the MAUQ results. Ease of use (6.64 ± 0.6), interface and satisfaction (6.4 ± 0.9), and usefulness (6.3 ± 1.0) of the app received high ratings. Interview responses indicated that parents found the app prototype to be user-friendly and intuitive. Suggestions included minor changes in delivery, layout, and addition of supplemental and interactive content thus demonstrating the fit of the mHealth app with parent needs and preferences. Conclusions Parents of children ages 0 to 2 years old favorably rated the usability of BabyByte. With further revisions and expansion, BabyByte may be a feasible intervention tool to improve responsive practices by parents and prevent early childhood obesity. Funding Sources University of Florida CTSI

Introduction Home visitation programs that reach families of young children offer a unique opportunity for large-scale early childhood obesity prevention efforts. The objective of this qualitative research was to determine stakeholder attitudes, subjective norms, perceived ease of use and usefulness, behavioral control, and behavioral intentions towards utilizing technology in a home visitation program targeting early childhood obesity prevention. Methods Staff from the Florida Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (n = 27) were interviewed individually by a trained research assistant using a semi-structured script based on constructs from the Technology Acceptance Model and Theory of Planned Behavior. Demographic and technology use information were collected. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, with data extracted and coded by two trained researchers using a theoretical thematic analysis approach. Results Most of the home visiting staff (78%) were white and non-Hispanic and employed for an average of 5 years with the program. Most staff (85%) indicated they were currently using videoconferencing for home visits. Themes and subthemes emerged, including positive attitudes towards technology as a flexible and time-efficient program alternative for childhood obesity prevention with recommendations to keep content short, at a low literacy level, and available in more than one language for ease of use. Participants recommended developing training tutorials to improve program implementation. Internet access and potential social disconnect were cited as concerns for using technology. Discussion Overall, home visitation staff had positive attitudes and intentions for using technology in home visiting programs with families for early childhood obesity prevention.

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