A Healthy Meal Kit Intervention to Address Food Insecurity in Lubbock, Texas

Food insecurity is a major social determinant of health in Lubbock County, Texas, disproportionately affecting Black and Hispanic residents in East and North Lubbock. As described in the paper, food insecurity in Lubbock County shapes clinical outcomes for patients with conditions ranging from diabetes to traumatic injuries. Limited grocery store access, transportation barriers, and inconsistent clinical screening contribute to higher chronic disease, increased hospital readmissions, and shorter life expectancy.  This capstone adapts an evidence-based Healthy Meal Kit Intervention to address these inequities. Patients of clinics in East and North Lubbock will be screened for food insecurity and enrolled in a meal kit delivery service that provides fresh ingredients, culturally tailored recipe instructions, and nutrition education. The program integrates systematic screening, culturally relevant meal kits, and community based follow up through partners such as the South Plains Food Bank.  The evaluation utilizes the Hunger Vital Sign Survey at baseline, 8 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year to assess changes in food security status. The intervention aims to improve short term food security and support long term chronic disease management by offering a feasible and equity driven strategy to strengthen nutrition access in Lubbock County.