Nutritious Eating with Soul
(NEW Soul) Study

Thanks for your interest in the Nutritious Eating with Soul (NEW Soul) study.

This study has partners in Columbia, SC, and Augusta, GA. In Columbia, SC, the study partners with Chef Judy Etheredge, owner of Celeb Studio in Columbia, SC. In Augusta, GA, the study partners with Chef Georgia Alexander. Both locations are recruiting Black/African American adults between the ages of 18 and 65 who will participate in a 3-month plant-based eating study. As part of this study, participants will receive one to-go plant-based meal per week during the study. Recruitment is currently open for Columbia, SC, and in Augusta, GA. If you are interested in the Columbia program, please complete an application form here. If you are interested in Augusta, GA, please complete an application here. Once your application is received and reviewed, someone will contact you regarding your ability to enroll in the study.

Participate

Interested in participating in our NEW Soul 12-week intervention? Recruitment is currently open for NEW Soul in Columbia, SC, and Augusta, GA. Please click here to complete the application form for Columbia, and here to complete the application form for Augusta.

Past Studies

The NEW Soul study partnered with local soul food restaurants and chefs to deliver two different culturally tailored nutrition interventions to African American adults. NEW Soul examined the impact of diets (vegan and omnivorous low-fat) on changes in risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The study was conducted between 2018-2021 in Columbia, SC.

Turner-McGrievy, G, Wilcox S, Frongillo, EA, Murphy, A, Hutto, B, Wilson, M, Davey, M, Bernhart, JA, Okpara, N, Bailey, S, Hu, E. Effect of a Plant-Based vs Omnivorous Soul Food Diet on Weight and Lipid Levels Among African American Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Network Open. Jan2023;6(1):e2250626

You may also visit the below articles and videos to learn more about the NEW Soul study:

Turner-McGrievy G, Wilcox S, Frongillo EA, Murphy A, Hutto B, Williams K, Crimarco A, Wilson M, Davey M. The Nutritious Eating with Soul (NEW Soul) Study: Study design and methods of a two-year randomized trial comparing culturally adapted soul food vegan vs. omnivorous diets among African American adults at risk for heart disease. Contemp Clin Trials. 2020 Jan;88:105897.

Okpara N, Chauvenet C, Turner-McGrievy G, Grich K. "Food doesn't have power over me anymore!" Self-Efficacy as a Driver for Dietary Adherence among African American Adults Participating in Plant-Based and Meat-Reduced Dietary Interventions: A Qualitative Study. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2022 Apr;122(4):811-824

Bernhart. J.A., Turner-McGrievy, G.M., Eustis, S., Wilson, M.J., Hutto, B., Wilcox, S. Physical Activity Assessment in African Americans Participating in a Dietary Weight Loss Trial Focused on Soul Food. Journal of Public Health: From Theory to Practice. 2023. Vol 31. 1373-1380

Bernhart JA, Turner-McGrievy GM, Eustis S, Wilson M, Hutto B, Wilcox S, Frongillo EA, Murphy EA. Sensor-measured physical activity is associated with decreased cardiovascular disease risk in African Americans. Lifestyle Medicine. 2020; 1:e16.

Turner-McGrievy GM, Wilcox S, Frongillo EA, Kim Y, Okpara N, Wilson MJ. Differences in dietary acceptability, restraint, disinhibition, and hunger among African American participants randomized to either a vegan or omnivorous soul food diet. Appetite. 2024 May 1;196:107280.

Hu EA, Turner-McGrievy GM, Wilson MJ, Bailey S, Okpara N, Frongillo EA, Wilcox S. Adherence to a culturally adapted soul food vegan diet among African American adults increases diet quality compared to an omnivorous diet in the NEW Soul Study. Nutrition Research. In press. DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2024.01.010.

Bernhart, J.A., Quattlebaum, M., Eustis, S., Okpara, N., Wilson, M.J., Sentman, C., Turner-McGrievy, G.M. “It’s gonna be okay” – A qualitative exploration of the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on African American participants in a dietary intervention study. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2023. 123. Issue 12. Pages 1763-1771.

Bernhart, J.A., Fellers, A., Wilson, M.J., Hutto, B., Bailey, S., Turner-McGrievy, G.M. COVID-19 pandemic associations on mental and physical health in African Americans participating in a behavioral intervention. 2023. 10(3070-3076). Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.

Bernhart, J.A., Fellers, A.W., Turner-McGrievy, G.M., Wilson, M.J., Hutto, B. Socially Distanced Data Collection: Lessons Learned Using Electronic Bluetooth Scales to Assess Weight. Health Education & Behavior. 2022. 49(5): 765-769.

Kuehn BM. Vegan Diets That Are Culturally Aligned With Traditional Soul Food Gain Popularity Among Black Individuals. Circulation. 2021 Aug 3;144(5):393-394.

NHLBI research feature: Vegan soul food: Will it help fight heart disease, obesity?

The NHLBI Obesity, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Seminar Series: The Role of Teaching Kitchens in Addressing Nutrition Disparities and Implementation Research.

Students in the BRIE Lab: “Recent alumnus kicks off five-year plan as Rotary Global Scholar followed by return to UofSC to study medicine”

Assistance in guiding, planning, and disseminating the NEW Soul study is provided by the University of South Carolina Prevention Research Center’s (UofSC PRC) Community Advisory Board (CAB).

Study Benefits

Participating in one of the Behavioral Research in Eating Lab studies is fun and can be life changing for your health. See what our former participants have said about our studies and working with Dr. Brie and her team.

I’m happy!

I struggled with my health and my weight before working with Dr. Brie.

Annie, age 60, Health Information Coordinator

Awesome!

I was able to lose a total of 50 POUNDS!

Patcenia, age 56, Project Coordinator

I highly recommend!

I made a lifetime change…You are in for a treat.

Peggy H, age 60, Retired Educator

Former participants share their experience

Ask us about the New Soul Study!