Mindful Moms, Mindful Meals (MMMM) Study (MMMM)

February 3, 2026 updated by: Maryam Kebbe, University of New Brunswick

Mindful Moms, Mindful Meals (MMMM): A Patient-Oriented Randomized Controlled Trial Testing the Effects of a Mindful Eating Intervention on Infant Feeding Practices

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training Postpartum (MB-EAT-P) program can improve infant feeding practices and maternal eating behaviors. Researchers will compare participants who receive the MB-EAT-P program immediately to those who receive it after an 8-week waitlist period. Participants in the intervention group will attend weekly 2-hour MB-EAT-P sessions for 8 weeks and practice mindfulness and mindful eating at home. Participants in both groups will participate in a recorded mealtime observations with their infant and complete surveys and dietary recalls at baseline, midpoint, and post-intervention. This study is patient-oriented and co-developed with a Parent Advisory Committee to ensure relevance to postpartum individuals.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Background. Postpartum life may lead to suboptimal nutrition behaviors/habits. Mothers have reported an unbalanced diet postpartum, defined as insufficient intake of key food groups i.e., fruits, veggies, grain foods, dairy and meat, which is directly linked to obesity, diabetes, and cancer. Maternal eating behaviours also contribute to child feeding practices, which in turn shape their lifelong eating patterns. Mindful eating can help struggling mothers to re-balance their nutrition by increasing awareness of choices, reducing stress, and fostering a greater connection to bodily cues, such as hunger and fullness cues. Previous literature on mindful eating has focused on the pregnant population and found that mindfulness-based interventions are feasible and acceptable, can reduce stress and overeating during pregnancy, and may support healthier postpartum weight outcomes through intuitive eating practices. The effects of postpartum mindful eating interventions on mothers' diet and feeding of infants remain unknown.

Objectives. The Mindful Moms, Mindful Meals (MMMM) study aims to evaluate the effects of a Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training Postpartum (MB-EAT-P) intervention on infant feeding practices and maternal eating behaviors.

Research Questions.

  • Does MB-EAT-P improve mothers' recognition of infant hunger and satiety cues?
  • Does MB-EAT-P enhance maternal mindful eating?
  • Does MB-EAT-P improve dietary quality of mother and infant?
  • Does MB-EAT-P improve behaviour change constructs (e.g., knowledge, confidence, self-efficacy?)
  • Does MB-EAT-P improve sleep quality, weight control, and anxiety symptoms?
  • Does MB-EAT-P promote sustainable mindful eating and responsive feeding behaviours 3-months post-intervention?

Methodological Approach. This parallel, waitlist-control randomized controlled trial will adapt an 8-week mindful eating intervention for postpartum participants. Approximately 72 participants, aged 19-45 years, with infants aged 6-12 months who have started solid foods, will be recruited from social media, community outreach, and local health clinics in Fredericton, NB. Exclusion criteria include active eating disorders, substance use disorders, unmanaged medical/mental health conditions such as diagnosed postpartum depression or anxiety, cognitive impairments, recent trauma or untreated post-traumatic stress disorder, participation in a similar program within 12 months, strict dietary regimens, recent major surgery that affects nutritional intake, preterm infants, or no English proficiency.

Mothers will be randomized to either the intervention group or a control group using REDCap®. The intervention group will begin the MB-EAT-P program immediately upon enrollment, participating in 2-hour weekly group sessions over eight weeks, guided by MB-EAT certified instructor, with supplemental at-home mindfulness practices. Sessions will cover topics such as transitioning from breastfeeding and formula-feeding to solid foods, hunger and satiety awareness, recognition and management of emotional and mindless eating, and mindful eating strategies tailored for the postpartum period, including infancy. Meanwhile, the control group will be waitlisted for eight weeks. After the waitlist period, the control group will receive the intervention materials via the MMMM website, including recordings of guided mindful eating meditations, session worksheets, and responsive feeding infographics.

Phenotypic assessments will occur at the University of New Brunswick by telephone and/or online. Data will be collected at baseline, 4 weeks (midpoint), 8 weeks (post-intervention) and 3-months post-intervention. Infant feeding practices will be observed, using the validated Responsiveness to Child Feeding Cues Scale, during a recorded individual mealtime session in the PEADS Lab Metabolic Kitchen. The Mindful Eating Scale (MES) and Mindful Eating Behavior Scale (MEBS) will measure maternal mindful eating. Other questionnaires will measure maternal and infant feeding, weight control strategies, sleep, and mental health. Dietary quality of mothers and infants will be measured using the Healthy Eating Food Index and the WHO Infant and Young Child Feeding Indicators, respectively, derived from a 24-hour dietary recall.

Infant feeding practices, maternal eating behaviours, and dietary quality are among the top priorities for mothers. Our outcomes draw from this literature, as well as the priorities identified by moms in our Parent Advisory Committee (PAC). Specifically, the investigators established a PAC consisting of five diverse postpartum mothers from across Canada following the Canadian Institutes for Health Research recommendations for patient engagement. PAC mothers have collaborated (level 4 of 5 of the IAP2) with the research team by contributing to the development of MB-EAT-P session materials as well as informed session timings, postpartum specific programming, MMMM website and child-minding volunteer program.

Statistical Analysis. A repeated measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) will be conducted to evaluate the interaction between time (three measurements) and group (intervention vs. control). Based on a repeated measures within-between group interaction (ie. whether the pattern of change over time differs between groups), and assuming a small-to-medium effect size (f = 0.2), α = 0.05, and 95% power, 66 participants (28 per group) are required; to account for an anticipated ~10% drop-out rate, 72 participants (36 per group) will be recruited. A comprehensive analysis of 32 studies reported pooled effect sizes ranging approximately from f = 0.11 to f = 0.35, indicating small to moderate improvements in mindless eating behaviors such as controlled eating, fullness awareness, and impulsive food choices. The effects on stress-related eating behaviors, including emotional and binge eating, were generally smaller and less consistent across studies. However, an effect size of f = 0.32 for fullness awareness and f = 0.25 for long-term improvements in hunger eating were reported in adults, reflecting a medium-sized effect in the context of mindful eating interventions, suggesting an f = 0.20 for MMMM is appropriate yet conservative for an infant population.

Expected Outcomes. This study will generate evidence on how mindful eating interventions, like MB-EAT-P, may enhance maternal and infant feeding practices. Our findings may inform the development of public health programs to promote lifelong mindful eating and feeding habits.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
72

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

  • Name: Jasleen Kaur Dev, PhD Candidate
  • Phone Number: +1-778-385-6814
  • Email: jasleen.dev@unb.ca

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • New Brunswick
      • Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, E3B 4J9
        • Recruiting
        • University of New Brunswick
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Dr. Maryam Kebbe, PhD, CLC

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age between 19 and 45 years.
  • Have started or plan to start solid foods for their baby by the time of enrollment
  • Have an infant aged 6 to 12 months
  • Willing to participate in a recorded mealtime observation for the study
  • Willing to complete an 8-week MB-EAT-P intervention, including homework assignments
  • Have an infant born at or after 37 weeks of gestation.

Exclusion Criteria:

General

  • Planning to move in the next two months
  • Medically diagnosed with an active eating disorder (e.g., Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder)
  • Diagnosed with an unmanaged chronic medical condition affecting diet (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, celiac disease, severe GI disorders, kidney disease, sleep apnea, PCOS)
  • Diagnosed with unmanaged postpartum depression or anxiety
  • Diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia with extreme fatigue or weakness
  • Substance use disorder (e.g., alcohol or drug addiction)
  • Cognitive impairments affecting memory, attention, or comprehension (e.g., dementia, brain injury)
  • Following a strict formal diet or weight loss program
  • Enrolled in a weight loss or mindfulness-based program in the past 12 months
  • Recovering from major surgery or experiencing an acute medical crisis (e.g., bariatric surgery)
  • Experiencing recent trauma or untreated PTSD

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Intervention
Participants in this group will take part in an 8-week, tailored Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training Postpartum (MB-EAT-P) program. Weekly sessions will include mindfulness meditations, training in hunger and satiety awareness, responsive feeding education, light-intensity physical activity, and food tasting experiences. In addition to the group sessions, participants will be encouraged to engage in at-home practices, including mindfulness meditations, mindful eating, responsive feeding techniques, and journaling their experiences to support reflection and integration of the training into daily life.
Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training Postpartum

Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training Postpartum (MB-EAT-P) is an 8-week, patient-oriented intervention co-developed with a Parent Advisory Committee. Designed for postpartum individuals, it integrates mindfulness practices, responsive feeding education, and experiential learning. Weekly sessions include guided meditations, mindful eating exercises, infant feeding strategies, and reflective journaling. Activities cover hunger/satiety cues, emotional balance, cultural feeding practices, and light physical activity. MB-EAT-P stands out for its postpartum-specific design, parent-led development, and holistic approach to maternal-infant well-being.

The intervention group receives the full program following the baseline visit, in an in-person group setting.
Active Comparator: Control
Participants in the control group will receive access to the Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training Postpartum (MB-EAT-P) program following the initial 8-week period. This self-guided version of the program will be delivered through the MMMM website and will include recorded sessions, meditation scripts, worksheets, and all core components of the intervention. These components encompass mindfulness meditations, hunger and satiety awareness training, responsive feeding education, light-intensity physical activity guidelines, and food tasting guidance.
Behavioral: Waitlist Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training Postpartum

Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training Postpartum (MB-EAT-P) is an 8-week, patient-oriented intervention co-developed with a Parent Advisory Committee. Designed for postpartum individuals, it integrates mindfulness practices, responsive feeding education, and experiential learning. Weekly sessions include guided meditations, mindful eating exercises, infant feeding strategies, and reflective journaling. Activities cover hunger/satiety cues, emotional balance, cultural feeding practices, and light physical activity. The control group will not receive any components of the intervention until after the final clinical visit. MB-EAT-P stands out for its postpartum-specific design, parent-led development, and holistic approach to maternal-infant well-being.

The control group will then receive the full program post-study via the MMMM website in a self-guided format with recorded sessions, scripts, and worksheets.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Infant Responsive Feeding
Time Frame: Baseline, at 4 weeks, at 8 weeks after enrollment and 3 months post-intervention
Responsive Feeding is defined as a caregiver's ability to recognize and appropriately respond to their infant's hunger and satiety cues in a timely, supportive, and developmentally appropriate manner. It includes offering food when the infant shows hunger, allowing self-regulation, and avoiding coercive feeding. Infant cues will be assessed using the Responsiveness to Child Feeding Cues Scale (RCFCS), an observational coding system rating hunger and satiety cues (early, active, late), engagement, affect, and physical disposition. Cue strength is rated 1-5, with late cues coded present (1), absent (0), or can't tell (6). Responsiveness reflects how accurately and promptly caregivers respond to these cues, rather than cue strength alone. Composite measures include infant receptiveness (balance of hunger vs. fullness cues) and feeding engagement (percentage of time engaged with feeding). Trained coders will code video-recorded meals using the standardized RCFCS manual.
Baseline, at 4 weeks, at 8 weeks after enrollment and 3 months post-intervention
Maternal Mindful Eating
Time Frame: Baseline, at 4 weeks, at 8 weeks after enrollment and 3 months post-intervention
Mindful Eating is defined as non-judgmental awareness of physical and emotional sensations during eating, including hunger, satiety, taste, and emotional triggers. In this study, maternal mindful eating will be assessed using two validated tools: the Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ) and the Mindful Eating Behavior Scale (MEBS). The MEQ evaluates dimensions such as awareness, disinhibition, and emotional eating, with scores ranging from 1 to 4, where higher scores reflect more mindful eating. The MEBS measures behavioral engagement in mindful eating practices, with scores from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater mindful eating behavior. Together, the MEQ and MEBS provide a multidimensional understanding of how postpartum individuals engage with food and feeding in a mindful, intentional way, capturing both attitudinal and behavioral aspects of mindful eating.
Baseline, at 4 weeks, at 8 weeks after enrollment and 3 months post-intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Dietary Quality
Time Frame: Baseline, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks after enrollment.
Dietary quality is defined as the overall nutritional adequacy and alignment of food intake with dietary guidelines. Maternal dietary quality will be assessed using the Healthy Eating Food Index (HEFI) based on ASA24 dietary recalls, which evaluates intake across food groups and nutrients. HEFI scores range from 0 to 80, with higher scores reflecting better alignment with recommendations. Infant dietary quality will be assessed using the WHO Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Indicators, which capture dietary diversity (0-7 food groups), meal frequency, and breastfeeding status. Together, the HEFI and IYCF provide a comprehensive assessment of maternal and infant nutritional behaviors and adherence to recommended feeding standards.
Baseline, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks after enrollment.
Behaviour Change Constructs
Time Frame: Baseline, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks after enrollment.
The investigators will examine whether MB-EAT-P improves behaviour change constructs (e.g., knowledge, confidence, self-efficacy) assessed using the Maternal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Solid Feeding (MSEQ-SF) and the InFANT Program Questionnaire. The MSEQ-SF captures maternal confidence and self-efficacy across three domains: (1) responsive feeding (ability to recognize hunger/satiety cues; range 0-20), (2) capability to feed (providing healthy food and encouraging intake; range 5-25), and (3) food-related decisions (confidence in making appropriate feeding choices; range 0-8). The InFANT Program Questionnaire assesses nutrition knowledge (12 items scored on a 4-point agreement scale, dichotomized into correct/incorrect) and parental confidence in promoting healthy eating, limiting unhealthy foods, and providing healthy settings (scored on a 5-point confidence scale).
Baseline, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks after enrollment.
Sleep Quality
Time Frame: Baseline, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks after enrollment.
The investigators will examine whether MB-EAT-P improves sleep quality in mothers. Sleep quality will be assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The PSQI total score ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality.
Baseline, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks after enrollment.
Weight Control Strategies
Time Frame: Baseline, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks after enrollment.
The investigators will examine whether MB-EAT-P improves weight control strategies. Weight control strategies will be assessed using the Weight Control Strategies Scale (WCSS). The WCSS includes subscales for dietary choices, self-monitoring, and physical activity, with scores ranging from 0 to 4 per item; higher scores indicate more frequent use of weight control strategies.
Baseline, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks after enrollment.
Mental Health
Time Frame: Baseline, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks after enrollment.
The investigators will examine whether MB-EAT-P improves mental health symptoms such as postpartum anxiety. Mental health will be assessed using the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). The SCL-90 contains 90 items scored from 0 to 4, producing subscale scores (e.g., Depression, Anxiety, Somatization) and a Global Severity Index (GSI); higher scores indicate greater psychological distress.
Baseline, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks after enrollment.
Sustainability of Mindful Eating
Time Frame: 3 months post-intervention
Self-Regulation of Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (SREBQ) will be administered 3 months post intervention to assess sustainability of Mindful Eating behaviours. SREBQ is scored on a scale of 1-5 for five questions. The score ranges between 25-5 with higher score indicating better self-regulation of Mindful Eating Behaviour.
3 months post-intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of New Brunswick

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Dr. Maryam Kebbe, PhD, CLC, University of New Brunswick

Publications and helpful links

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General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

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Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 30, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 12, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 10, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 15, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
February 5, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 3, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • REB 2025-126

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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