Home Food Environment and Dietary Quality by Food Security Status Among United Way 2-1-1 Clients

Background and Objectives: The home food environment can support or inhibit healthy eating and may vary by food security status. This study describes associations between nine dimensions of the home food environment with the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015, energy intake, and body mass index (BMI) by food security status. Methods: Data were collected from United Way 2-1-1 clients (n = 510). Participants completed two 24-hour dietary recalls and a home food environment survey. Results: Most of the participants were women (91.6%) and identified as Black (81.6%); mean age was 43.4 (SD = 11.93). The majority were food insecure (73.9%). Mean HEI was 51.9 (SD = 12.64). Two dimensions of the home food environment varied by food security status: fruit and vegetable inventory and less healthy beverages. In multivariable analyses, healthier meal preparation was positively associated with HEI 2015, and unhealthy snack inventory was positively associated with energy intake, for both food insecure and secure participants. Food serving practices and scale ownership were inversely associated with energy intake for food insecure participants, whereas owning a scale was positively associated with BMI for food secure participants. Conclusions: Results illuminate potential intervention targets, and how home food environment interventions may best be adapted by food security status.