Mobile Application to Create Healthy Food Preparation Habits for Patients With Diabetes and Prediabetes

Boston Medical Center (BMC) serves many underserved, low-income patients and has developed an innovative strategy to combat food insecurity including a preventative food pantry, a teaching kitchen, and a rooftop farm that provides fresh produce directly to the patients. The presence of this well-established, three-pronged approach places BMC in an ideal position to develop a nutritional education intervention that supports experiential learning in this high-risk population. For this first exploratory study, 75 enrolled participants will be given a free mobile application with recipes designed to build habits. Participants will cook at least three meals weekly for two months using the app. Self-reported survey data and activity on the app will be collected and used to assess the feasibility of teaching cooking skills through a mobile application.