Sustainable Culturally Adapted Nutrition (SCAN) Program

Three instructional live video sessions will be provided to participants via live videoconferencing. The session will describe fundamentals for preparing produce for cooking, healthy approaches to cooking foods, a review of serving sizes, reading labels, and different classes of health foods. The nutrition education is designed to promote healthy dietary patterns for all by empowering participants to navigate healthy eating through the lens of their own food and cultural experiences. By emphasizing culinary techniques over recipes, instructors can inspire adaptability of culturally familiar flavors and ingredients for a diverse range of ethnicities, abilities, and cooking equipment.

This online information will supplement and reinforce the information presented in the live instructional video sessions.

The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is a lifestyle change program intended to stop the onset of type 2 diabetes. The program involves Lifestyle Coaches, who help participants make and maintain the lifestyle changes that can help prevent type 2 diabetes. The Lifestyle Coaches share information about diabetes prevention, debunk fitness and health myths, and encourage fitness and healthy eating in regular group sessions. They also work with participants individually on personalized weight loss and exercise goals and action plans, using the group as a source of support and encouragement.

The investigators partnered with the Houston Food Bank (HFB) to offer up to 30 pounds of fresh produce twice per month to all DPP participants through a food prescription (Food Rx) program.