Healthy Eating Research

Rapid Health Impact Assessment on USDA Proposed Changes to School Nutrition Standards

RWJF and Healthy Eating Research have released a Health Impact Assessment on USDA’s proposed changes to school nutrition standards. The analysis finds that the changes could have a detrimental impact on students’ health and academic performance and increase food insecurity.

Healthy Eating Research Nutrition Guidelines for the Charitable Food System

Healthy Eating Research has released a comprehensive set of evidence-based guidelines in partnership with Feeding America to help the charitable food system improve the nutritional quality of items provided to individuals and families.

Leading Health Organizations Release Healthy Beverage Recommendations for Children Ages 0-5

New recommendations from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Heart Association on what kids ages 0 to 5 should – and should not – be drinking as part of a healthy diet.

Better for You Foods: A Guide to Evaluating the Quality of Nutrition Standards

Retailers and other organizations use a variety of nutrition standards and recommendations to identify healthier, or “Better-For-You” foods. Healthy Eating Research convened a scientific advisory committee to review existing “Better-For-You” nutrition standards, and analyze their strengths and weaknesses.

New Videos for Parents on Infant and Toddler Feeding

Partnering with HER and building on the recent report, Feeding Guidelines for Infants and Young Toddlers: A Responsive Parenting Approach, 1,000 Days has launched a series of bite-sized videos on one of the biggest questions parents have: how to introduce solid foods.

The Cost-Effectiveness of Interventions for Reducing Obesity among Young Children

Using research conducted by the Childhood Obesity Intervention Cost-Effectiveness Study (CHOICES) at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, this brief provides an overview of the goals of cost-effectiveness analysis, the evidence thus far on the cost-effectiveness of different strategies to prevent obesity in the places where very young children live, learn, and play, and the evidence that is still needed for informed decision-making.

Learn About What We Fund

New Recommendations!

Research shows that what children drink from birth through age five has a big impact on their health - both now and for years to come. The nation's leading health organizations agree that for most kids, the following Recommendations can help to set children on a path for healthy growth and development.

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Focus Areas

Beverages

Diet Quality

Early Childhood

Food Access

Food & Beverage Marketing

Food Retail

Healthy Weight

Nutrition & Agriculture Policy and Programs

Pricing & Economics

School & After School

Research & Publications

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March 2020

Rapid Health Impact Assessment on USDA Proposed Changes to School Nutrition Standards

More than 21.8 million school-age children receive free or reduced-price school lunch and 12.6 million children receive free or reduced-price breakfast each day. Since updated nutrition standards for school meals, snack foods, and beverages have been implemented following passage of the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, a growing body of … More

March 2020

Executive Summary: Rapid Health Impact Assessment on USDA Proposed Changes to School Nutrition Standards

March 2020

Toddler Drink Marketing: Opportunities to Address Harmful Practices

Toddler drinks are a relatively new product category, typically offered by infant formula manufacturers and promoted as beneficial for young children ages 12 months and older. Marketing promotes these drinks as the “next step” after infant formula, using claims that imply unproven benefits for children’s nutrition and health. However, these drinks … More

March 2020

Healthy Eating Research Nutrition Guidelines for the Charitable Food System

Federal food programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are the first line of defense against food insecurity in the United States. However, these benefits are often not sufficient to meet all of the food needs of … More

Food Access

Rapid Health Impact Assessment on USDA Proposed Changes to School Nutrition Standards