Challenges and opportunities for measuring the impact of a nutrition programme amongst young people at risk of food insecurity: A pilot study

Food insecurity in Australia is increasing. Organisations within the charitable food sector aim to manage, and in some cases are implementing strategies to prevent, food insecurity, such as food literacy programmes. This pilot study describes the challenges and opportunities for evaluating the impact of a food literacy programme, FoodMate by SecondBite™, which aims to reduce food insecurity amongst ‘at risk’ young people. Three community agencies working with ‘at risk’ young people delivered an 8-week food literacy programme in Melbourne, Australia. A pre-test/post-test design was used and outcome measures included: (i) food intake, (ii) diet quality, (iii) cooking confidence and (iv) food independence. These were assessed via questionnaires and 24-hour recalls at three time points: pre-programme (T1), post-programme (T2) and at 4 to 6-week follow-up (T3). Twenty-one young people aged 16–25 years participated in this pilot study. The response rate for the questionnaire and 24-hour recalls declined across the study: T1 (n = 21), T2 (n = 11) and T3 (n = 9). Some positive effects were associated with the programme but attrition rates were high and the majority of participants did not complete all measures. Although results were inconclusive, this study describes some common challenges of conducting a food literacy intervention with vulnerable young people and highlights the benefit of nutrition researchers and practitioners working together to conduct evaluation of such programmes.