The impact of nutrition education on food insecurity, food literacy, and dietary intake: a single-arm pre–post intervention study

BACKGROUND: Poor food literacy behaviours may exacerbate food insecurity. Therefore, food literacy interventions have been increasingly utilized to improve food security and enhance dietary intake among low-socioeconomic adults. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a nutrition education intervention on food security, food literacy, and dietary intake among low-income Saudi families. METHODS: This single-arm pre-post intervention study was conducted between June and August 2024. Seventy-three adults completed the pre-survey and 67 completed the post-survey. The survey included questions on food security, food literacy, and dietary intake. RESULTS: The intervention was significantly associated with improvements in both food insecurity and food literacy. The mean food insecurity score decreased from 4.06 ± 2.98 pre-intervention to 2.71 ± 2.58 post-intervention, with a mean reduction of - 1.35 ± 1.62 (P < 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.83). In terms of food literacy, the mean score increased from 46.4 ± 10.9 to 58.4 ± 7.1, with a mean increase of 12 ± 9.07 (P < 0.001; Cohen's d = 1.32). Dietary intake also improved following the intervention. After adjustment for multiple comparisons, significant improvements remained for fruit intake, red and white meat intake, legumes, and bread and cereals. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention showed short-term improvement in food insecurity and food literacy, along with favorable changes in dietary intake among low-income Saudi families.