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School-Based Nutrition Program promotes Health Opportunities in Acres Homes Community

Written by: Wes Gibson | Updated: August 08, 2025

Ru-Jye Chuang, DrPH, MS, CHE faculty and assistant professor and professor Shreela Sharma, PhD, RDN, LD.
Ru-Jye Chuang, DrPH, MS, CHE faculty and assistant professor and professor Shreela Sharma, PhD, RDN, LD.

By Wes Gibson

The Center for Health Equity (CHE) in collaboration The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), has been awarded $74,970 to evaluate the impact of the Brighter Bites program. This non-profit, school-based initiative provides families with fruits and vegetables, recipe tastings, and nutrition education across 16 biweekly distributions during the school year, aiming to improve obesity-related health outcomes and psychosocial wellbeing among parents and caregivers of elementary school-aged children living in Acres Homes—a predominantly Black and Hispanic community in Houston.

Led by principal investigator, Ru-Jye Chuang, DrPH, MS, CHE faculty and assistant professor in the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, and co-investigator, Shreela Sharma, PhD, RDN, LD, CHE Director and Professor and Vice-Chair in the Department of Epidemiology, this pilot project builds upon a broader Brighter Bites research initiative already underway as part of the Acres Homes Cancer Prevention Collaboration, an NCI-funded research center led by MD Anderson. The study responds to growing evidence linking obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) with increased risk for certain cancers, particularly among under-resourced populations disproportionately burdened by food insecurity and poor access to nutritious foods.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity soared to more than 30% among Black and Hispanic households, compounding existing disparities1. In Acres Homes, over 69% of residents live in USDA-designated food desert areas, and more than 40% of adults are classified as obese2-4.

While previous evaluations have demonstrated Brighter Bites’ success in increasing fruit and vegetable intake and reducing food insecurity among children, less is known about its long-term effects on adults’ health outcomes and well-being. This new study aims to fill that gap.

Researchers will use a group randomized controlled study design to assess obesity measures (BMI, blood pressure, HbA1c), dietary behaviors, household food insecurity, and mental wellness outcomes among parents and caregivers of elementary school-aged children participating in Brighter Bites. Mixed methods, including biometric screenings and qualitative interviews, will offer a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities for improving health through food-based interventions.

Specifically, the study will:

  1. Evaluate associations among non-medical drivers of health, obesity, T2D-related outcomes, and psychosocial wellbeing.
  2. Measure changes in health outcomes pre- and post-intervention.
  3. Explore perceptions of obesity-related cancer risks and barriers to food access among parents.

Biometric and survey data will be collected at two time points—prior to the fall 2025 program launch, and following the program’s conclusion in spring 2026.

The study exemplifies a growing shift in public health research toward community-engaged, place-based interventions that address root causes of chronic disease. By leveraging existing school systems, Brighter Bites aligns with efforts to transform traditional food assistance into sustained health promotion.

“This pilot will not only inform how we evaluate school-based interventions,” said Chuang, “but also help us understand how to expand their benefits to the broader household—especially in communities facing persistent poverty.”

Findings from this project aim to guide future cancer prevention and chronic disease interventions that are culturally relevant, community-driven, and sustainable. The ultimate goal is to create scalable, evidence-based models that improve outcomes for under-resourced families and reduce the long-term burden of obesity-related illnesses.

 

 

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Founded in 1967, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health was Texas' first public health school and remains a nationally ranked leader in graduate public health education. Since opening its doors in Houston nearly 60 years ago, the school has established five additional locations across the state, including Austin, Brownsville, Dallas, El Paso, and San Antonio. Across five academic departments — Biostatistics and Data Science; Epidemiology; Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences; Health Promotion and Behavioral Science; and Management, Policy & Community Health — students learn to collaborate, lead, and transform the field of public health through excellence in graduate education.

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