Researchers created a program called GoFresh that delivers groceries following a proven heart-healthy eating plan (called DASH) directly to Black adults in Boston who live in areas without easy access to good grocery stores. Instead of following a strict menu, participants chose their own groceries that matched the healthy eating pattern, with help from a dietitian. The program included recipe videos from local chefs and weekly lessons on healthy cooking. This study describes how the program was designed and tested to see if it could actually lower blood pressure in real life, not just in a lab setting.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether delivering healthy groceries based on a proven eating plan could help lower blood pressure in Black adults living in neighborhoods with limited access to fresh food
  • Who participated: Black adults living in Boston who either have high blood pressure or don’t, living in communities where it’s hard to find good grocery stores. The program allowed them to choose groceries for themselves and up to five family members
  • Key finding: This paper describes the design of the GoFresh program rather than final results. It shows how researchers created a flexible, community-friendly approach to the DASH eating plan that lets people choose foods they actually like while meeting healthy nutrition targets
  • What it means for you: If you struggle to find healthy groceries in your neighborhood, programs like this may eventually help you lower blood pressure through food choices that fit your preferences and family needs. However, this is still being tested, so results aren’t final yet

The Research Details

GoFresh is a randomized controlled trial, which is a gold-standard research method. Researchers split participants into two groups: one group receives home-delivered groceries selected according to the DASH eating plan, while the other group serves as a comparison. The DASH plan focuses on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy while limiting salt and saturated fat.

What makes GoFresh different from previous DASH studies is flexibility. Instead of giving everyone the same meals (like old studies did in special kitchens), researchers let participants choose their own groceries from local supermarkets that fit the DASH pattern. A dietitian helped make sure choices were healthy and met specific targets: keeping potassium higher than sodium and limiting saturated fat to 7% of calories.

The program included practical support: a recipe book, 24 cooking videos made with Boston chefs, and weekly educational lessons. A community advisory board helped design everything to make sure it matched what the community actually needed and could realistically do.

Previous research proved the DASH eating plan lowers blood pressure, but those studies used prepared meals in research kitchens—not real life. This study matters because it tests whether the DASH plan actually works when people shop for real groceries, cook at home, and make their own choices. This approach is more realistic and could help more people if it works.

This is a well-designed study because: (1) it’s a randomized controlled trial, the strongest type of research; (2) it involves a community advisory board to ensure cultural relevance; (3) it uses multiple ways to measure success (blood pressure, urine tests, nutrition recalls, surveys); (4) it was registered before starting (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05121337), which prevents researchers from changing their methods based on results. However, this paper only describes the study design—the actual results aren’t available yet

What the Results Show

This paper is a study design paper, not a results paper, so final outcomes aren’t reported yet. However, it describes what researchers will measure: blood pressure changes, dietary compliance (checked through 24-hour urine samples and food recalls), and whether people actually stick with the program. The study also measures whether participants’ knowledge about healthy eating improves and whether they actually like the foods recommended.

The program targets a potassium-to-sodium ratio greater than 2.0 (meaning more potassium than sodium) and keeps saturated fat at 7% or less of daily calories. These are the specific nutrition targets that research shows help lower blood pressure.

Participants can choose groceries for themselves and up to five family members, making it a household-level intervention rather than just individual. This family-focused approach may help create lasting changes in eating habits across the home.

The study also measures food preparation habits, shopping behaviors, and how well people understand the DASH eating plan before and after the program. Researchers created a ‘palatability form’ to see if people actually enjoy eating this way—an important factor for whether people stick with it long-term. The program’s success partly depends on whether people find the foods tasty and practical to prepare.

The original DASH diet study (from the 1990s) proved the eating plan works but used prepared meals in a research kitchen, which isn’t how most people eat. GoFresh builds on this by testing DASH in the real world with real grocery shopping. Other recent studies have tried similar approaches, but GoFresh is unique because it specifically targets Black communities in Boston with limited grocery access—a population that often gets left out of nutrition research but faces higher rates of high blood pressure.

This design paper doesn’t report final results, so we don’t yet know if the program actually works. The study focuses on Black adults in Boston, so results may not apply to other communities or racial groups. The program requires home delivery of groceries, which may not be available everywhere. Success depends partly on whether people follow the program and stick with it—something that’s hard to control in real-world studies. The study also can’t prove that any blood pressure improvements come only from the groceries, since other life changes could affect results

The Bottom Line

Wait for final results from this study before making major changes. However, if you have high blood pressure and live in an area with limited grocery access, ask your doctor about DASH-style eating patterns. The general principles (more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, less salt and saturated fat) are well-proven to help. Confidence level: High for DASH eating in general; moderate for this specific grocery delivery approach until results are published

This research is most relevant for Black adults living in neighborhoods with limited access to fresh groceries who have or are at risk for high blood pressure. It’s also important for public health officials and community organizations thinking about how to improve health in underserved neighborhoods. Healthcare providers should watch for final results to see if they can recommend similar programs to patients

The DASH eating plan typically shows blood pressure improvements within 2-4 weeks of starting, with continued benefits over months. However, GoFresh is still being studied, so we won’t know final results until the research is complete and published, likely in 2025 or later

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily sodium and potassium intake using a food logging app, aiming for a potassium-to-sodium ratio above 2.0. Log blood pressure readings weekly at the same time of day to monitor trends over 4-8 weeks
  • Start by replacing one high-sodium food per day with a DASH-approved alternative (for example, swap processed snacks for fresh fruit or vegetables). Use the app to plan one DASH-style meal per week, gradually increasing to more meals as you get comfortable
  • Use the app to track three metrics monthly: (1) average blood pressure readings, (2) estimated sodium intake from logged foods, (3) number of servings of vegetables and fruits per day. Set a goal to increase vegetables/fruits and decrease sodium over 3 months

This paper describes a research study design, not final results. The DASH eating plan is proven to help lower blood pressure, but this specific GoFresh program is still being tested. Do not start any new eating plan or stop blood pressure medications without talking to your doctor first. Results from this study may not apply to everyone. If you have high blood pressure, work with your healthcare provider to develop a treatment plan tailored to your individual health needs.