NCT07454902

From Kitchen to Clinic

From Kitchen to Clinic: A Family-Centered, Food-As-Medicine Approach Using Medically Tailored Meals and Caregiver Coaching in Pediatric Oncology Care

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 120 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Drexel University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 5 Years – 21 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Children receiving cancer treatment often experience nutrition-related challenges, such as changes in appetite, weight, and food intake, due to treatment side effects and the demands placed on families during care. These challenges can increase caregiver stress, reduce diet quality, and contribute to short- and long-term health risks for children. While medically tailored meals have been shown to improve nutrition and reduce burden in adults with serious illness, their use in pediatric cancer care has not been well studied. This pilot study will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week, family-centered food-as-medicine program for children undergoing active cancer treatment and their caregivers. The program combines weekly delivery of medically tailored meals with individualized caregiver coaching provided by registered dietitian nutritionists. During the first eight weeks, families receive full meal support and weekly coaching sessions, followed by a four-week transition period with tapered meal delivery and bi-weekly coaching to support sustainable nutrition practices. A total of 60 pediatric patients and their caregivers will be enrolled at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The study will assess whether families can be successfully recruited and retained, whether they are able to participate in study activities, and whether the program is acceptable and usable during cancer treatment. The study will also explore preliminary effects on children's dietary intake, weight and growth patterns, treatment tolerance, household nutrition security, and caregiver stress and burden.

Conditions

• Pediatric Cancer
• Malnutrition, Child
• Caregiver Burden

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Medically Tailored Meals	The total length of the intervention is 12 weeks. For 8 weeks, participants will receive weekly deliveries of 21 child-friendly MTMs plus snacks for the patient and 7 meals for the family, alongside weekly caregiver coaching sessions. In weeks 9-12, MTMs will taper to 1 meal/day for the patient, family meal support will continue, and coaching will shift to bi-weekly sessions.
BEHAVIORAL	Caregiver Coaching	For 8 weeks, participants will receive weekly deliveries of 21 child-friendly MTMs plus snacks for the patient and 7 meals for the family, alongside weekly caregiver coaching sessions. In weeks 9-12, MTMs will taper to 1 meal/day for the patient, family meal support will continue, and coaching will shift to bi-weekly sessions.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-03-01
• Primary completion: 2028-09-01
• Completion: 2028-12-01
• First posted: 2026-03-06
• Last updated: 2026-03-09

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States