Ready-to-Eat Meals Reduce Food Insecurity for Patients in Recovery
.png)
50%
Reduction in food insecurity at home
90%
Adherence to the prescribed diet
92%
Meal satisfaction rating by diners
When patients had consistent access to CookUnity meals, their food insecurity dropped, their mental health improved, and they felt better supported in recovery.
University of Vermont
The Challenge:
Food Insecurity in Substance Use Recovery
Food insecurity is 4–7 times higher among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) than the general population. It’s linked to depression, higher health risks, and even a doubling of premature death rates.
Researchers at the University of Vermont wanted to test whether nutrition-focused interventions could improve food security, mental health, and substance use outcomes for patients in methadone and buprenorphine treatment.
Traditional approaches — like vouchers or pantry programs — often fail because they require patients to shop, cook, and manage logistics while navigating complex health and life challenges. UVM needed a ready-to-use, low-barrier meal solution that delivered consistent nutrition directly to patients’ homes.
The Solution:
Chef-Made, Clinically Designed Meals
The research team partnered with CookUnity to design a 12-week, randomized trial that tested whether ready-to-eat, nutritious meals could improve food security for patients in OUD treatment. Participants in the intervention arm received weekly deliveries of chef-prepared, fully cooked meals, with six meals provided for each household member. CookUnity offered more than 300 rotating options across breakfast, lunch, and dinner, accommodating a wide range of dietary needs such as low-carb, plant-based, keto, paleo, and culturally relevant recipes.
All meals were nutritionist-approved, aligned with FDA sodium guidelines, and required only about four minutes to heat. By removing barriers such as transportation, grocery shopping, and cooking, CookUnity ensured that patients could consistently access nutritious food with minimal effort. This made healthy eating practical and sustainable for a highly vulnerable population, while giving the care team a reliable and scalable tool to address food insecurity head-on.
Download the Full University of Vermont Study
Get the full University of Vermont research paper on food insecurity and recovery outcomes.
.jpg)
"
.png)
“This study supports the feasibility, acceptability and initial efficacy of an intervention for improving household food insecurity.
Bring Proven Meal Solutions to Your Organization
