Grant: Project Grant

Current Canadian dietary patterns are a problem for public health and the planet. A majority of Canadians eat high amounts of red and processed meats, which increases chronic disease risk and is also a key contributor of greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation. Canadians also throw away too much food. Food waste is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Food waste also has important nutritional consequences as over half of the foods Canadians throw away are fruit and vegetables. To preserve our health and the health of the planet, we need effective strategies that support Canadians to eat more plant-based protein and reduce food waste. The goal of this research is to test the impact of Supper Heroes, a family-based mobile health intervention designed to help families reduce their food waste and increase their intake of minimally processed plant-based proteins. To achieve this goal, we will test whether families who receive - over 6 months -- a mobile app that includes 7 interactive modules, mailed behavioural supports, and text messages (intervention group) have lower food waste and higher intakes of plant-based protein foods as compared to families who receive monthly emails with general health messages (control group). Our interdisciplinary team with expertise in randomized controlled trials, food waste, and behaviour change has partnered with knowledge users in public health and municipal waste management to develop and deliver this intervention. As a result, this research could provide a scalable and cost-effective model for healthy and sustainable eating that can lead to long-term improvements in individual and planetary health.