Follow-up: how nutrition is transforming maternal health in Alabama

Last year, Forge AHEAD featured the work of Camille Worthington, Ph.D., RDN, an assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, who is studying how home-delivered meals could improve pregnancy outcomes for Medicaid-eligible women in Alabama. Since then, her pilot study has progressed, providing insights into how food access, stress, and nutrition interventions shape maternal health.

During National Nutrition Month, it’s an opportunity to look at what’s changed, what’s been learned, and how these findings could influence maternal health policies.

New Findings from the Home-Delivered Meal Study

Worthington’s study provides ten free, healthy meals per week to participants, aiming to improve diet quality, support healthy weight gain, and reduce stress.

“We are still analyzing the full results, but one of the biggest takeaways so far is that these meals aren’t just about nutrition. They provide peace of mind. Participants tell us they feel relieved knowing they have healthy meals ready to go, especially after a long day,” Worthington said.

Women also reported that the convenience of having meals already prepared reduced stress and saved time. Many used the meals for work lunches or relied on them when they didn’t have the energy to cook. Some even discovered new foods they had never tried before.

“One mom told us she had never had bok choy before and now she loves it. That’s a small but important shift, because when people are exposed to new, healthy foods in a convenient way, they’re more likely to integrate them into their daily lives,” Worthington explained.

Another unanticipated benefit was that participants started recreating meals on their own. Having access to prepared, balanced meals helped reinforce healthier eating habits beyond pregnancy.

“We saw that some women wanted to make their own versions of the meals they loved, which is an exciting sign that these interventions could have a lasting impact,” she said.

Camille Schneider-Worthington, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Division of General Internal Medicine & Population Science, UAB Heersink School of Medicine

Learn more about Worthington.

Maternal Health in Alabama

Alabama has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the U.S.

36.4 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births – 3rd highest in the nation.
Black women are twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared to white women.
Food insecurity and poor nutrition access are key contributors to pregnancy complications.

For more information, refer to the ADPH “2020 Maternal Mortality Review“.

How Home-Delivered Meals Fit into Maternal Health Care

A year ago, Worthington described her long-term vision for making nutrition a standard part of prenatal care. That goal remains the same, but now, the study is providing evidence to support that vision.

“Pregnancy complications shouldn’t be inevitable. If we can remove barriers to nutrition—cost, transportation, time—we can help prevent conditions like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and excessive weight gain before they start.”

🍽️ How Home-Delivered Meals Support Pregnancy

✅ Eliminates the Stress of Finding Healthy Food – Pregnant women in food-insecure households are more likely to have preterm births. (Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2022)

✅ Provides Essential Nutrients – Home-delivered meals ensure intake of critical pregnancy nutrients, including folate, iron, and protein. (National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, 2023)

✅ Supports Weight Management & Reduces Health Risks – Women with better dietary intake during pregnancy have a 20% lower risk of gestational diabetes. (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2023)

✅ Encourages Long-Term Healthy Eating Habits – Women in structured meal programs are more likely to continue healthy eating postpartum. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023)

She hopes these findings can be used to make the case for meal delivery as a covered healthcare service for pregnant women.

“My goal is to take this research beyond a pilot study and work toward integrating nutrition support into prenatal care on a larger scale. I plan to present our findings to Alabama Medicaid and other insurance providers to advocate for meal delivery as a covered healthcare service. If we can show that providing healthy meals improves pregnancy outcomes while reducing medical costs, we can make a strong case for long-term policy change.”

Expanding Nutrition Education Beyond Delivery

One of the next steps in the study is to incorporate nutrition education alongside meal delivery.

“We’re exploring ways to not only provide meals but also give participants the knowledge and confidence to cook these meals for themselves and their families. In our future studies, we’re considering including recipe cards with meals to support long-term healthy eating habits.”

This shift aligns with the National Nutrition Month theme, “Food That Connects Us.”

“Food isn’t just about physical health. It’s deeply tied to culture, family, and connection. If we can provide meals that introduce women to healthier versions of culturally familiar foods, we’re not just improving nutrition. We’re strengthening community ties and giving women tools they can carry with them long after pregnancy.”

How to Get Involved

One year later, Worthington’s research continues to evolve, but the need for better maternal nutrition support remains urgent. Here’s how you can help:

✔ Stay Informed – Follow Forge AHEAD and Worthington’s research to stay updated on nutrition and maternal health advancements.

✔ Support Local Food Initiatives – Donate or volunteer with food security programs helping pregnant women access healthy meals.

“We know that food connects us in so many ways. By making healthy food more accessible, we’re going beyond improving individual pregnancies. We’re also strengthening entire communities.”

-Camille Schneider-Worthington, Ph.D.