Esto es mejor: Improving food purchasing selection among low-income Spanish-speaking Latinos

Changing the macro-level food environment for good requires formidable efforts that call for systemic changes. However, research focused on patient activation suggests that individuals can be taught to become agents of change in their own families and communities. For example, individuals can be taught to identify nutritional choices that are readily available within their community-based convenience stores. They could also be “activated” to ask vendors to stock specific food products and to share their food knowledge with other members in the community. This presentation will report findings from a qualitative exploratory study designed to examine how a low-literacy consumer activation nutrition educational paradigm could be used to increase food literacy and change consumer behavior toward healthy eating within a limited budget and limited food options among low-income Spanish-speaking Latinos. Data was collected through qualitative research methods (i.e., participant observation, food census, semi-structured interviews, cognitive interviews, and photovoice) in order to characterize and document changes in consumer behavior related to food expenditures and consumption after participants were exposed to a consumer activation nutrition educational intervention. A descriptive narrative of strategies that can be used to promote healthy eating within food deserts and to inform policymakers about how to maximize communication strategies around healthy eating will be discussed in light of the data collected.