Diet may represent a modifiable prostate cancer risk factor, but a 
vegetable-based prostate-healthy diet is a major change for most men. We used a 
ratio of animal to vegetable proteins (A:V) to evaluate whether a comprehensive 
dietary change was self-sustaining following completion of 11 weekly dietary and 
cooking classes that integrated mindfulness training. Thirty-six men with 
recurring prostate cancer were randomized to the intervention or wait-list 
control. Assessments were at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Of 17 men 
randomized to the intervention, 14 completed the requirements. Nineteen were 
randomized to control and 17 completed requirements. Compared with controls, a 
significant postintervention (3 months) decrease in A:V in the intervention 
group (P=0.01) was self-maintained 3 months postintervention (P=0.049). At each 
assessment, A:V was correlated with lycopene, fiber, saturated fat, and dietary 
cholesterol, four dietary components linked to clinically relevant outcomes in 
prostate cancer. Change in A:V was also significantly correlated with changes in 
fiber, saturated fat, and dietary cholesterol intake. Participants reported 
regular mindfulness training practice, and there was a significant correlation 
between mindfulness training practice and changes in both initiation and 
maintenance of the change in A:V. These pilot results provide encouraging 
evidence for the feasibility of a dietary program that includes mindfulness 
training in supporting dietary change for men with recurrent prostate cancer and 
invite further study to explore the possible role of mindfulness training as a 
means of supporting both initiation of dietary changes and maintenance of those 
changes over time.