SPICE UP MyPlate - Strategy for Promoting Intake of Delicious Healthful Dietary Patterns Based on MyPlate: a Pilot Study

Launched by PENN STATE UNIVERSITY · Mar 17, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The SPICE UP MyPlate trial is a study designed to explore how cooking-focused nutrition education can help people improve their eating habits in line with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This pilot study will compare the new approach to standard care that is less intensive. The goal is to see if participants find the culinary education helpful, enjoyable, and effective in managing their health, especially related to cardiometabolic risk factors, which include issues like high blood pressure and diabetes.

To be eligible for this study, you need to be between 31 and 59 years old, and you should regularly cook at home, eating at least one home-cooked meal each week. If you’re managing conditions like high blood pressure or high cholesterol with stable medications, you can still participate. However, if anyone in your household is already enrolled, you won't be able to join. Participants can expect to learn practical cooking skills and receive support for healthier eating, all in a friendly environment. This study will not recruit participants until later, so keep an eye out for updates if you're interested!

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age 31-59 years
• • Involved in meal cooking at home and consumes a home cooked meal ≥ 1 time per week
• • Individuals taking medications for blood pressure, lipid or glucose lowering will be eligible if they have been on a stable dose for the 1 month prior to baseline
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • A member of the household is already enrolled (only one person per household will be eligible for inclusion in the study).
• • Unstable medical conditions requiring active intervention (surgeries, medication/drug therapy for \< 3 months) as assessed during the telephone screening (e.g. cancer, kidney disease requiring dialysis, heart or gastrointestinal diseases requiring surgery).
• • Received nutrition education for a medical condition within the past 6 months
• • Currently following a weight loss diet
• • Lost ≥ 10% body weight in the past 6 months
• • Currently (within 6 months) smoke or use any tobacco or nicotine containing products
• • Currently pregnant or given birth within the prior 6 months
• • Currently participating in another clinical trial
• • Principal investigator discretion (e.g., disrespectful or inappropriate interactions with study staff)
• • Does not speak or understand English