From Kitchen to Clinic

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

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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

  collaborator OTHER

• Drexel University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

5 Years

Max Age

21 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-03-31

Primary Completion

2028-09-30

Completion

2028-12-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations