Improving healthy eating habits in African Americans through vegan soul food.

Expanding the reach of the Nutritious Eating with Soul (NEW Soul) program: A Type 2 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial

NIH-funded research University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-11046627

This study is looking at how a program that offers live cooking classes and restaurant vouchers for vegan soul food can help African Americans who are overweight or obese eat healthier and possibly lose weight over three months.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Columbia, United States)
Project IDNIH-11046627 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the effectiveness of a program designed to promote healthier eating habits among African Americans with overweight or obesity by utilizing vegan soul food options. Participants will be randomly assigned to either receive live weekly classes with restaurant vouchers for vegan meals or just the vouchers alone. The program aims to assess changes in body weight and diet quality over a three-month period, leveraging community partnerships with local vegan soul food restaurants. The study will be conducted remotely, making it accessible to a wider audience.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are African American adults who are overweight or obese and interested in adopting healthier eating habits.

Not a fit: Patients who are not African American or who do not have issues with overweight or obesity may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved dietary habits and weight management for African Americans, potentially reducing their risk of cardiovascular disease and obesity.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that dietary interventions, particularly those focused on culturally relevant foods, can be effective in improving health outcomes in similar populations.

Where this research is happening

Columbia, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.