The purpose of this project is to test whether a vegetable prescription program and a digital application (Veg4Me) will support young adults living in rural communities to eat more vegetables. The intervention will be available for young adults aged 18-35 years who live in regional, rural and remote regions of Victoria. The project is significant as young adults often experience a lack of skills and confidence to prepare and cook vegetables, while rural communities face unique geographic challenges to meeting vegetable recommendations, including a lack of access to fresh produce. To date, no interventions have been co-designed to address these challenges. This project fills this gap as the Veg4Me app has been co-designed by young adults living in these communities, and this project combines behavioural support with practical access to fresh vegetables.
The project team has progressed development work on the digital application to ensure that it will be ready for use in the intervention. They have also designed the vegetable prescription process, including confirming project delivery partners. Engagement with the Plus One Serve of Vegetables by 2030 Program Coordinators and the Project Reference Group is well underway to ensure that the project will be completed on time and within budget.
The expected outcome from this project will be a behaviour change intervention, vegetable prescription program and app known as Veg4Me, to increase vegetable intake and demand in rural, regional, and remote communities.
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This project is funded through Hort Innovation Frontiers, with co-investment from Deakin University, and contributions from the Australian Government.
Project code: HN24006