A disproportionate number of COVID-19 cases affect older, minority populations. Obese older adults are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 complications and lower survival rates, and minority older adults often experience higher rates of obesity. A plant-based diet intervention may improve COVID-19-related modifiable risk factors for obesity. Encouraging the consumption of plant-based diets comprising vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts by utilizing community outreach strategies and digital technology can contribute to improving COVID-19 risk factors among this population.

A whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) eating pattern has shown benefits in preventing and reversing chronic disease, yet nursing curricula rarely include content on nutrition as a primary modality for disease management. We implemented several undergraduate and graduate nursing and interprofessional teaching strategies to increase student knowledge of a WFPB diet and help nurses improve patient outcomes through assimilation. Students requested additional emphasis on WFPB diets and chronic illness in the curriculum.

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BACKGROUND United States (U.S.) ambulatory visits drastically fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, threatening an individual’s health promotion and chronic illness management. Considering the disproportionate number of COVID-19 cases affecting older minority populations, plant-based diet may be an intervention improve health. Plant-based diets reduce Body Mass Index (BMI) and inflammation and boost the immune system with antioxidants. Promoting plant-based diet eating patterns with the use of telehealth and digital technology can be powerful instruments which may contribute to weight loss and help keep older, minority adults stay connected to during times of physical isolation. OBJECTIVE Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are staying home; therefore, encouraging healthy diet is critical to promote wellness. Dietary modification is an accessible, measurable, and translatable health behavior. Identifying achievable self-management behaviors that promote and maintain plant-based diet has been shown to decrease adiposity, body mass index (BMI), and hemoglobin A1C values in certain minority groups and older adults.1,2 This promising diet needs to be further explored utilizing telehealth and digital technologies, which may reduce COVID-19 related health disparities and promote community connections. METHODS None RESULTS None CONCLUSIONS The pandemic has rapidly shifted the healthcare delivery system to utilize more telehealth and digital health technologies. Interdisciplinary teams must consider using technology to implement a solid plant-based diet program to combat the obesity epidemic and associated conditions plaguing ethnically diverse individuals, families, and communities. The family and community network are critically important to help improve health outcomes for populations at risk for the COVID-19 virus. As plant-based diets are integrated into the plan of care, telehealth education and community outreach programs could significantly benefit future generations and improve health disparities.