Early Nutrition Intervention for Pediatric Health Equity

Challenge

Childhood Type 2 Diabetes is rising rapidly among underserved families due to limited access to fresh, affordable nutrition, increasing long-term health risks for children ages 5–12.

My Role

Led end-to-end research, synthesis, design strategy, and concept development in collaboration with healthcare, nonprofit, and community stakeholders.

Overview

Predicted Outcomes

Modeled projections based on early-intervention and Food-as-Medicine literature.

$40–$80 savings/ month

120+ Household Surveys 60+ Interview Participants

(single + two-parent)

10–20% reduction

in preventable nutrition-related risk factors

8 nonprofits‍ ‍(5 responses, 3 collaborators)

Retail partners (CVS, Kroger)

15–30% improvement

in Operational efficiency

SNAP/WIC-compatible

Nonprofit + retail integration (CVS, Kroger, 912 FF)

Proposed Solution

1. Family Context, children (5-12) years

2. Financial Barriers

3. Tailored Provider Guidance

4. Insurance-Covered, tailored Meal Plans

5. Produce Delivery

6. Fresh Produce Kits/ Insurance-Covered

Illustrations by Jayanti Dave, developed collaboratively from hand-drawn concept sketches.

Value Proposition

A culturally and clinically tailored fresh produce–kit service designed to improve nutrition access for financially underserved families in Savannah.

A culturally and clinically tailored fresh produce–kit service that improves nutrition access for underserved families by combining SNAP/WIC compatibility, physician-approved guidance, and local nonprofit and retail partnerships.

Flourishing Business Canvas(FBC)- Food as Medicine Family Initiative

Key Takeaways

Community Collaboration Supports Tailored Nutrition

All Stakeholders Play an Equal Role

Collaboration is Key

Cost of Type 2 Diabetes in the U.S.

$400B/ year

• 1 in 4 U.S. healthcare dollars goes toward diabetes care

• $400B+ spent annually across treatment and management

• One of the largest drivers of healthcare spending

Type 2 Diabetes in the U.S. and Financial Costs

35%

of U.S. children are overweight or obese

Rise in Childhood Type 2 Diabetes U.S.

20%

increase in childhood Type 2 Diabetes over the past decade

Diabetes Costs in the U.S. – Impact on Families

5–40%

of household income out of pocket

Problem

Despite the urgency, families in underserved communities face structural barriers that make healthy nutrition inaccessible.

Common Challenges Households - Single parent and Two parent

Key Barriers - Families

Fresh Produce is Costly

Limited Time

Distance from Fresh Produce

Opportunity

Early nutrition intervention presents a critical opportunity to prevent long-term health risks for children ages 5–12 by improving access, affordability, and guidance for underserved families.

Cost-Nutrition-Health Connection in At-Risk Children

This overlap reveals a clear opportunity to leverage food-as-medicine as an early intervention pathway—bringing affordable, culturally relevant nutrition to at-risk children during the most critical years of preventing Type 2 Diabetes.

Research and Insight

Research across families, nonprofits, and healthcare providers revealed systemic gaps in access, affordability, and nutrition support contributing to pediatric Type 2 Diabetes.

Physician Consultation Sketch + Insights

Insights

Reframed the project from childhood obesity to long-term Type 2 Diabetes prevention.
Identified interconnected factors including insulin resistance, genetics, sleep, psychology, and nutrition access.
Reinforced the importance of early intervention, systems thinking, and family-centered care.

Key Participants Quotes

“Managing pediatric Type 2 Diabetes requires early lifestyle intervention, family engagement, and long-term behavioral support beyond medication alone.”

Dr. Anil Piya — Pediatric Endocrinology

“Nutrition counseling is often not covered by insurance, making programs like SNAP, WIC, and affordable food access solutions essential for long-term sustainability in managing chronic health conditions.”

Pamela Hoffstetter — RDN, CDE, Certified Diabetes Educator/Dietitian

“Long-term health interventions become more sustainable when nonprofits, healthcare systems, and community partners align resources to reduce financial barriers for families.”

Paula Kreissler — MBA, CPA, REACH Project Director

Key Players

Families

30- Two Parent (Interviews)

30 - Single Parent (Interviews)

120- Surveys

Local Organization

5- Nonprofits

7- Stakeholders

Healthcare Providers

3- Hospital

4- Clinics

9- Providers

Ecosystem Map

Current landscape - Savannah, Ga at the time of study

Post Intervention landscape - Savannah, Ga at the time of study

AI-Augmented Research & Synthesis

Sample Example

AI-supported quantitative and qualitative analysis using ATLAS.ti

Synthesized insights from 80+ peer-reviewed and mixed-method sources on childhood nutrition, food access, and Type 2 diabetes

Analyzed 120+ survey responses and conducted in-depth interviews with 60+ families to understand real-world constraints, behaviors, and decision-making patterns

Validated concepts with 8 cross-sector stakeholders (public & private healthcare, nonprofit leadership, and food retail partners) through collaborative Miro workshops

Sample Example

Concept Development 1 & 2

Synthesized stakeholder feedback collected via Miro co-creation sessions. Icons indicate participant type.

Key Players

Families

Insight Consolidation: From Clusters to Key Takeaways

Sample Example

Design Approach

The process followed the Double Diamond framework, balancing research depth with iterative prototyping and validation (in full presentation).

Ethical Design

Ensured equitable access, cultural sensitivity, and responsible use of data by prioritizing underserved families and minimizing barriers to participation.