Healthy Eating Research

Healthy Eating Research Announces 2019 Call for Proposals

Healthy Eating Research has released its 2019 Call for Proposals. The goal of this CFP is to provide advocates, decision-makers, and policymakers with the evidence needed to address the social determinants of health and inequalities that underlie poor dietary patterns and related health consequences. Three award types will be given out for Round 12: small-scale grants, large-scale grants, and Community-Based Participatory Research grants.

Learn more and apply.

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.

State Policies on Testing Drinking Water for Lead in U.S. Schools

Reports of lead contamination have emerged in schools and communities across the country. The focus on this issue is deserved: even at low levels, lead exposure is harmful, especially for young children. A new report from the Prevention Research Center on Nutrition and Physical Activity at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Nutrition Policy Institute at the University of California examines states’ approaches to testing school drinking water for lead and finds notable variation in states’ efforts.

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.

A National Research Agenda on Beverage Consumption Among 0- to 5-Year-Olds

The goal of this national research agenda is to outline research gaps and opportunities for researchers, foundations, and practitioners to pursue in order to reduce sugary drink consumption and increase safe water access and consumption among 0- to 5-year-olds.

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.

Learn About What We Fund

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

See all

June 2019

The Academic, Behavioral, and Health Influence of Summer Child Nutrition Programs: A Narrative Review and Proposed Research and Policy Agenda

Since 1975, the US Department of Agriculture has sponsored the Summer Food Service Program as a nationwide strategy for providing nutritious meals to children and youth (aged 18 years or younger) in low-income communities during the summer months. Many programs are sponsored by community organizations as well as school districts … More

Food Access

June 2019

Engaging Fathers in Early Obesity Prevention During the First 1,000 Days: Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change Strategies

Fathers are critical stakeholders in childhood obesity prevention but are difficult to engage. This review presents a new approach to engaging fathers in obesity prevention during the first 1,000 days. The review focuses on five existing health and social service programs, including prenatal care, pediatric care, the Special Supplemental Nutrition … More

Early Childhood

April 2019

Parental and Provider Perceptions of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Interventions in the First 1,000 Days: A Qualitative Study

Novel approaches to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption during the first 1,000 days – pregnancy through age 2 years – are urgently needed. This study examined perceptions of SSB consumption and acceptability of potential intervention strategies to promote SSB avoidance in low income families in the first 1,000 days. Themes … More

March 2019

The Cost-Effectiveness of Interventions for Reducing Obesity among Young Children through Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, and Screen Time

Early childhood is an important period for interventions to prevent obesity, before poor diet and physical activity behaviors become entrenched and related chronic diseases develop. To date there are still few programs that have been evaluated using experimental study designs that demonstrate impacts on young children’s weight. As a result, … More

Early Childhood