Promoting Meal Planning and a Nutritious Weight-Loss Diet: A Qualitative Study of Hispanic Households Participating in a Food is Medicine Program

Background Diet-related chronic diseases disproportionately affect Hispanic populations in the U.S. Objective To explore experiences and perceptions of Hispanic households participating in FoodRx, a program delivering 26 weeks of meal plans along with grocery delivery to support adoption of healthy meals as well as weight loss for at least two adults in each household. Design/Setting/Participants We used purposeful sampling, recruiting 22 individuals among those currently enrolled in the study. Each household participated in semi-structured interviews in their homes. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Household eligibility included: at least two individuals aged 18 or older with a BMI ≥ 27 interested in losing weight; at least one child aged 3-17 years old; and identified as Hispanic. Findings Five themes emerged from the data analysis. The realization that healthy foods could be tasty, seeing health improvements, cost savings, and time efficiency were the most identified benefits, and these were influenced by family support. Challenges in successfully adopting and maintaining a weight-loss diet were also identified, such as children disliking vegetables. Conclusion FoodRx facilitated positive dietary changes, improved health, and strengthened family bonds, though adherence was influenced by family support and contextual barriers.