Join the Supper Heroes study!

Thank you for your interest in the Supper Heroes study! Read on to learn more about being part of this exciting research…..

What is Supper Heroes?

Supper Heroes is testing whether an online, family-based program can help families make more meals at home, reduce food waste, and eat more plant-based foods.  This project has been reviewed by the Research Ethics Board for compliance with federal guidelines for research involving human participants (REB#22-11-024).

What is involved?

If you are eligible and decide to take part in the study, your family will be randomly assigned to one of two groups.

1. Email group: You will receive weekly emails for 7 weeks with information about environmentally friendly habits, such as making more meals at home, reducing food waste, and eating more plant-based foods.  

2. Online program group: You and your family will participate in a 7-week Supper Heroes program delivered online, featuring activities focused on making more meals at home, reducing food waste, and eating more plant-based foods. 

The program will feature seven online missions that you and your family will complete over 7 weeks. Missions will involve reading infographics, watching short videos, and completing interactive family-based activities, such as online cooking classes. Lastly, families will share on a community board by providing photos or text about their experience for each mission. It will take approximately 1-2 hours per mission to complete all activities.

Parents will be invited to complete a 15-minute survey at 3 time points:

• Before starting the 7-week online program or receiving emails
• After completing the 7-week online program or receiving emails
• 6 months after the 7-week online program or emails end

Children will be invited to complete a 10-minute survey at two timepoints:

• Before starting the 7-week online program or receiving emails
• After completing the 7-week online program or receiving emails

You will be asked to complete a food waste diary where you will weigh and record your family’s food waste on a sheet of paper for 7 days at three timepoints:

• Before starting the 7-week online program or receiving emails
• After completing the 7-week online program or receiving emails
• 6 months after the 7-week online program or emails end

What will my family receive?

Parents will receive a $30 e-transfer for each survey they complete (up to $90), a $40 e-transfer for each completed food waste diary (up to $120) and the children will receive either a $15 Amazon or Indigo digital gift card for each survey they complete (they get to choose which one; up to $30 in gift cards)

Is my family eligible to take part?

To be eligible to participate in the study,

• Families must live in Ontario.
• At least one parent from the family must be willing to participate.
• Participants must feel comfortable reading and writing English.
• Families must have at least one child between the ages of 9 and 12 years. One child will be enrolled in the study; however, everyone can join in the fun!
• Families must not be vegetarian or vegan.