Behavioural change box? Applying the COM-B model to understand behavioural triggers that support consumption of fruits and vegetable among subscribers of a fruit and vegetable box scheme

Members of the Horizon 2020 EU INHERIT consortium have published a research report with objectives to understand the key mechanisms that support healthy dietary habits promoted by fruit and vegetable (F&V) box schemes, testing relevant behaviour change triggers identified under the COM-B model in an evaluation research study of a Portuguese F&V box scheme (PROVE).

The results show that subscribing to the PROVE box correlates with an increased probability of eating at least five portions of F&V, irrespective of differences in age, education and perceived economic difficulties. Diet quality perceptions, and more robustly, the strength of meal habits and household availability were identified as relevant mediators.

The study is part of a wider evaluation study on the impact of the PROVE box scheme on sustainability, health and equity.

Read the full report at Public Health Nutrition here.

Read more about IHE’s INHERIT work and about the wider body of work by the consortium.