Feasibility Study Comparing Dietary Methods to Increase Vegetable Consumption

Brief Summary

Detailed Description

The proposed study is a crossover 2- arm pilot study comparing vegetable consumption of individuals partaking in two interventions: 1) Tomato Products (tomato) or 2) Vegetables Prepared Raw (raw). A planned sample size of 20 will be recruited into the study. This study will require one initial screening visit and 5 weekly study visits. This study will take 4 weeks per subject to complete. The trial will initiate with one screening visit which will last about 1-2 hours where the subjects' height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, fasting glucose, blood pressure and heart rate will be measured along with a survey related to general eating, health and exercise habits. If willing and eligible to participate, a training of the online 24-hour recall software will be conducted during the screening visit. The subject will then use the software for an upcoming training week to recall foods for 3 days (2 weekdays and 1 weekend). During the first study visit (End of Week 0) the subject will be randomly assigned an intervention sequence. The intervention sequence will dictate which intervention will be conducted for the first two weeks, leaving the second intervention for the last two weeks. Subjects will receive detailed explanation of their role and types of products they must buy during the upcoming week for the purpose of the study. They will be taught how to record on Vegetable Intake Diaries and be provided with vouchers and coupons to buy study products. They will also be given a recipe book for inspiration during the study to make appropriate meals. The next study visits (End of Week 1-3) will take place by checking subjects' weight and then providing them with an Experience Questionnaire that is specific to their respective intervention assignment. The questionnaire will ask them to relate their study experiences over the past week. They will return any receipts and labels that were used to buy study products with the vouchers along with completed Vegetable Intake Diary. Before leaving, subjects will be provided with another set of Vegetable Intake Diaries and vouchers. During Week 2 and 4, subjects will receive 3 surprise notifications (2 weekdays and 1 weekend) to complete the online food records. If they are unable to comply, a different day will be assigned. The final study visit (End of Week 4) will initiate with anthropometric and vital measurements (height, weight, BMI, heart rate and blood pressure). Subject will complete Experience Questionnaire and return all receipts, labels, and diaries. The randomization intervention sequence will be randomly assigned based on computer generated sequences. The primary difference between the intervention sequences is the order in which the subject will partake in the two intervention types. While in the tomato intervention, they will be asked to consume extra vegetable through tomato products. While in the raw intervention, however, they can only consume extra vegetables into their diet through raw vegetable products that have not been processed in any way. Weekly Study Visits will be scheduled approximately 7 days apart.

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes

• Overall experience with increasing vegetable intake through weekly Experience Questionnaires.(2 weeks)