Feasibility of Collaborating with Independent Latino-Owned Restaurants to Increase Sales of a Healthy Combo Meal

Abstract

Americans spend the majority of their food dollars at restaurants and other prepared food sources, including quick-service and fast-food restaurants (PFS); independent small restaurants make up 66% of all PFS in the US. In this feasibility study, 5 independent and Latino-owned PFS in the Washington DC metro area worked with academic partners to start offering healthy combo meals with bottled water and promote these using on-site, community, and social media advertising. The number of healthy combos sold was collected weekly, showing that the new combos sold, and customers in all 5 sites were surveyed as they exited the PFS (n=50): >85% had noticed the combo meals; 100% thought it was a good idea to offer it, 68% had ordered the combo (of these, >94% of customers responded that they liked it). Results suggest that it is feasible to work with independent Latino-owned restaurants to promote healthy combos and collect data.

Evaluating the outcomes and implementation determinants of interventions co-developed using human-centered design to promote healthy eating in restaurants: an application of the consolidated framework for implementation research

“…This study examined the outcomes and determinants of tailored, restaurant-based interventions co-developed using HCD. The use of HCD was important in securing the buy in from key stakeholders, motivating changes that, while yielding mixed results, showcase the potential of this approach to create innovations in these complex settings that are often difficult to engage in public health interventions (37)(38)(39). This potential has been increasingly recognized in public health, including applications in global health and for chronic disease prevention (21).…”

How providing a low-cost water filter pitcher led Latino parents to reduce sugar-sweetened beverages and increase their water intake: explanatory qualitative results from the Water Up!@Home intervention trial

“…Sweet fruit and grain-based beverages (i.e. rice-based drinks borchatas or oatmeal-based drinks avenas ) are ubiquitous in Hispanic communities in the USA and in Latin America; they are often consumed at home but are also popular in independently owned Latino restaurants in the USA ( 45 ) and are a major source of energies from added sugars ( 46 , 47 ) . These perceptions warrant further understanding as they may hold important information for public health nutrition messaging in these communities.…”

Furthering nutrition equity through innovative and empathetic collaborations with the restaurant sector: Examples from Latin American restaurants

“…The LARiA Project is just an example within growing efforts that seek to engage this sector ( 37 – 39 ). This previous work showcases best practices for engagement with the sector, including the importance of active engagement with restaurant owners, through personal, tailored approaches that incorporate members of the sector and community in the research team ( 39 ). Yet, this is contrary to the prevalent top-down regulatory approaches that impose stringent standards continue to be at odds with the economic goal of restaurants, especially small, independently owned restaurants, where profit margins are slim and operational burdens are high ( 33 ).…”

“…The LARiA Project is just an example within growing efforts that seek to engage this sector (37)(38)(39). This previous work showcases best practices for engagement with the sector, including the importance of active engagement with restaurant owners, through personal, tailored approaches that incorporate members of the sector and community in the research team (39). Yet, this is contrary to the prevalent top-down regulatory approaches that impose stringent Frontiers in Public Health frontiersin.org Fuster .…”