Implementation of Nudges at a Food Pantry in Anchorage, Alaska

Abstract

Food pantry clients experience many health disparities, including elevated incidence of diabetes, heart disease, and other nutrition-related conditions. Nutrition education interventions in the form of a nudge can be an effective method to increase nutrition knowledge and to positively influence nutrition-related behaviors and attitudes surrounding healthful eating. Attitudes refer to the emotions, or beliefs towards something, whereas behaviors are the actions taken. The goal of this project was to develop a nutrition intervention in the form of a nudge to increase the selection of nutritious foods by pantry clients. Objectives included creating a guidebook for the pantry to utilize when implementing the nutrition education materials that were developed in this project. The nutrition education materials include nudges, extended nudges, client handouts, and recipe cards. This intervention will be implemented at the St. Francis House Food Pantry, which is a part of Catholic Social Services in Anchorage, Alaska. This food pantry serves a broad demographic of clients on a monthly basis, in a client-choice distribution model. The intervention includes nudges, extended nudges, client handouts, recipe cards, and a guide binder. These will be reusable so the pantry can utilize the materials repeatedly in the future. There is limited existing research on implementing nudges in the food pantry setting. Therefore, in order to determine the efficacy of implementing a nudge intervention in Anchorage, Alaska food pantries further research is needed.