At first glance, it looks like a simple fingerprint scan, but the Veggie Meter is quietly transforming how we measure nutrition and track health outcomes.
This innovative device uses a quick fingertip scan to detect carotenoids—the natural pigments that make fruits and vegetables so colorful and nutritious. Scores range from 0 to 800, with most people landing between 200 and 250.
Recognizing its potential, our Community Health Education team put the Veggie Meter to work in a six-month program called Diabetes Education for Seniors, which ran from October to February. Participants attended classes focused on managing or preventing diabetes, received monthly produce boxes, and had their carotenoid levels measured at the start, midpoint, and end of the program.
The results were powerful.
One participant began with a score of 112. By the end, her score soared to 305—a 193-point increase. Another participant climbed from 252 to 433, gaining 181 points in just six months. Every senior who received produce and education saw an increase in their score.
These numbers reflect more than just carotenoid levels—they tell a story of access, education, and transformation. They prove what we’ve always believed: when people have the resources to eat well, their health improves.
None of this would be possible without the generous support of Goodwill Industries of Eastern North Carolina, Inc., whose gift brought the Veggie Meter to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. We’re excited to continue using the Veggie Meter as a powerful tool to encourage our neighbors to eat more fruits and vegetables, track their progress, and celebrate the positive changes that come from consistent access to healthy food.
