Brain Bites Parkinson's Disease: A co-designed meal box solution

A Mediterranean meal box intervention will be provided to individuals with symptomatic Parkinson’s disease. Meal boxes will be delivered on a Sunday by a commercial provider operating in Victoria and New South Wales. Each box will contain ingredients and recipes to prepare four main meals per week, for a total of eight meals over two weeks. Boxes will also include kitchen safety tips and cooking strategies tailored to the needs of people living with Parkinson’s disease. Participants will be asked to prepare the meals during the two-week period using the provided ingredients and recipes. Throughout the intervention, participants will be asked to take photos of their ingredient set-up before cooking, the meal produced, the mess created during the cook and post eating and any food that was not eaten. They will also be asked to rate the difficulty of cooking and taste of the meal and provide any additional feedback they wish. Examples of Meals and Ingredients Participants will be presented with Mediterranean-style meals such as (only examples): Grilled salmon with quinoa salad and roasted vegetables Chickpea and vegetable stew with wholegrain bread Chicken and lentil tagine with seasonal greens Greek-style salad with feta and olives served alongside a vegetable omelette Key ingredients include olive oil, fresh vegetables (capsicum, tomato, leafy greens), legumes (chickpeas, lentils), wholegrains (quinoa, brown rice), lean meats or fish, fresh herbs and citrus. Anticipated Preparation and Cooking Time Each meal is expected to take less than 30 minutes to prepare and cook, ensuring they are practical and accessible for people living with Parkinson’s disease and their families. Batch Cooking The meals provided in the meal box will not be batch-cooked. Instead, they will be designed for fresh preparation each day using pre-portioned ingredients. This approach supports flexibility in meal preparation and helps maintain food safety standards. Advice for Remaining Main Meals Participants will not receive specific guidance for the remaining meals outside of the provided meal box recipes. They will be able to choose what to cook or eat for their other main meals, whether that involves preparing different meals at home or eating out. Preparation of Kitchen Safety Tips and Cooking Strategies Kitchen safety tips and cooking strategies for the meal box will be developed by the occupational therapist on the research team. These resources will be tailored to the needs of people living with Parkinson’s disease, ensuring a safe and supportive cooking experience.