Researchers studied a program that gave families free fruits and vegetables plus cooking lessons to see if it would help kids eat better. Over six months, 176 families received 16 pounds of produce each month and attended monthly virtual cooking classes. Kids in the program ate noticeably more fruits and vegetables compared to before they started. While the improvements were modest, the results suggest that making healthy foods easier to get and teaching families how to prepare them can help children develop better eating habits.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Does giving families free fruits and vegetables plus cooking education help kids eat more produce?
  • Who participated: 176 families with children ages 0-18 years old who participated in a 6-month program between November 2022 and December 2024
  • Key finding: Kids whose families got free produce and cooking lessons ate significantly more fruits (21% increase) and vegetables (30% increase) compared to before the program started
  • What it means for you: Free access to healthy foods combined with cooking education appears to help children eat better. However, this is just one step—other barriers to healthy eating still exist and may need additional solutions.

The Research Details

This was an observational cohort study, which means researchers followed families over time without randomly assigning them to different groups. Families who wanted to participate in the Produce Prescription program were enrolled and tracked for 6 months. Parents reported what their children ate at the beginning of the program and again at the end. Researchers then compared the eating habits before and after participation to see if there were changes.

The program itself was straightforward: each month, participating families received 16 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables (about what a family might buy at a grocery store). Additionally, families attended virtual cooking and nutrition classes once a month where they learned how to prepare healthy meals with the produce they received.

This approach allowed researchers to see real-world results from families who chose to participate, rather than forcing some families to get the program and others not to. This type of study is useful for understanding whether programs work in everyday life.

This research design is important because it shows what actually happens when families use a real program, not just what might happen in a controlled lab setting. By measuring eating habits before and after, researchers could see actual changes in children’s diets. The study also included families of different ages (babies through teenagers), which helps show whether the program works across different stages of childhood.

The study tracked 176 families who completed the full program, which is a reasonable sample size. However, this was an observational study, meaning we can’t be completely certain that the program caused the changes—other factors in families’ lives might have also contributed. The study relied on parents reporting what their children ate, which can sometimes be less accurate than other measurement methods. The researchers used statistical methods to account for these limitations, which strengthens the findings.

What the Results Show

Children in the program showed meaningful increases in both fruit and vegetable consumption. Fruit intake increased by about 21%, while vegetable intake increased by about 30%. These improvements were statistically significant, meaning they were unlikely to have happened by chance alone.

The vegetable increase was larger than the fruit increase, which makes sense because the program specifically focused on expanding access to vegetables, which many children eat less of compared to fruits. The fact that both categories improved suggests that having free produce available and learning how to cook with it helped children eat more of both types of foods.

These improvements were measured by asking parents what their children ate, comparing their answers from the start of the program to six months later. The researchers used statistical methods to make sure the changes they found were real and meaningful.

While the abstract doesn’t detail other findings, the study notes that ‘barriers to FV intake remain,’ suggesting that even with free produce and cooking education, some families still faced challenges getting their children to eat enough fruits and vegetables. This indicates that the program helped but didn’t completely solve the problem of low produce consumption in children.

This research fits into a growing body of evidence showing that food insecurity (not having enough healthy food) is a real barrier to good nutrition in children. Previous studies have suggested that programs providing free or low-cost produce can help, and this study adds to that evidence. However, the modest improvements found here suggest that access and education alone may not be enough—other factors like food preferences, family routines, and cultural food traditions also play important roles.

The study relied on parents to report what their children ate, which can be less accurate than other methods like food diaries or direct observation. The study didn’t include a comparison group of families who didn’t receive the program, so we can’t be completely certain the program caused the improvements (though it’s likely). The study was conducted over 6 months, so we don’t know if the benefits lasted longer or if they faded over time. Additionally, families who chose to participate in the program might have been more motivated to eat healthy than families who didn’t sign up, which could have affected the results.

The Bottom Line

If you have access to a Produce Prescription program or similar initiative, participation appears to be worthwhile for improving children’s fruit and vegetable intake. The evidence suggests a moderate level of confidence that such programs help. Combining free produce with cooking education seems more effective than either approach alone. However, these programs work best as part of a broader approach to healthy eating that also addresses food preferences and family routines.

This research is most relevant for families with limited access to affordable fresh produce, families struggling with food insecurity, and parents concerned about their children’s vegetable intake. Healthcare providers, school administrators, and policymakers interested in child nutrition programs should also pay attention. The findings are less directly applicable to families who already have good access to affordable produce and established healthy eating habits, though they might still benefit.

Based on this study, families should expect to see noticeable changes in their children’s fruit and vegetable intake within the 6-month program period. However, maintaining these improvements likely requires ongoing access to affordable produce and continued cooking education. The study didn’t track families after the program ended, so it’s unclear whether benefits persist without continued support.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily fruit and vegetable servings consumed by each child in your household. Set a goal (for example, 2-3 servings of vegetables and 1-2 servings of fruit daily) and log actual intake each day. Note which fruits and vegetables your child ate and whether they tried anything new.
  • Use the app to plan weekly meals featuring the produce you receive from your program. Set reminders for cooking class sessions and save favorite recipes from the classes. Create a ’new foods to try’ list and celebrate when your child tries a new fruit or vegetable.
  • Review your child’s produce intake weekly to identify patterns—which fruits and vegetables they prefer, which meals they’re most likely to eat produce, and what preparation methods work best. Track not just quantity but also variety, aiming to introduce new produce types each month. Compare monthly summaries to see progress over the 6-month program period.

This research suggests that Produce Prescription programs may help improve children’s fruit and vegetable intake, but individual results may vary. This study should not replace advice from your child’s doctor or a registered dietitian. If your child has specific dietary needs, allergies, or medical conditions affecting nutrition, consult with a healthcare provider before making significant changes to their diet. While this program appears beneficial, it is one tool among many for improving child nutrition and should be combined with other healthy lifestyle practices.