This year we celebrated many accomplishments and exciting projects for HER and our research network. We celebrated 20 years of our program at our annual meeting, launched new networks for researchers, and released a new expert panel report. We have some exciting new projects lined up for 2026 that we can’t wait to share. Happy New Year! 

New Healthy Beverage Recommendations for Kids Ages 5-18 

In January, we released new recommendations to guide healthier drink choices for kids ages 5 to 18. The recommendations were developed by a panel of experts convened by Healthy Eating Research from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Heart Association. The recommendations address questions and concerns about sugar, caffeine, and other ingredients to promote better overall nutrition and health. In addition to the main report, we developed a suite of materials for parents including fact sheets and a hydration calculator and tools for providers.  

HER 2025 Annual Meeting:  Celebrating 20 Years of Impact 

In March, we marked a major milestone—20 years of advancing research and policy for healthier eating—at our Annual Grantee Meeting in Durham, NC. This special celebration featured a look back at HER’s greatest contributions and an inspiring discussion on what the field needs next. 

Grantees shared cutting-edge research, and dynamic speakers tackled timely topics like climate and food systems, non-sugar sweeteners, and nutrition misinformation. It was a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come—and the exciting work ahead!

Launch of Strategic Research Collaborative 

This new collaborative was created to bring public health professionals working on research, policy, and practice together to rapidly respond to evolving federal, state, and local policies and programs, with the goal of using evidence to protect the health and nutrition of children and their families. The group has met monthly throughout the year, co-chaired by Drs. Christina Roberto and Jason Block, with activities including building networks, disseminating research, and gathering data. Email healthyeating@duke.edu to learn more about the collaborative. 

5^th Cohort of ESI Work Group 

Healthy Eating Research launched the fifth cohort of our Early Stage Investigator Work Group in August. This year’s cohort is led by Drs. Kelseanna Hollis-Hansen and Gabby Headrick. The goal of this work group is to support professional development, facilitate collaboration, and build the field of diverse early stage investigators conducting research to improve healthy eating among children and advance nutrition and health equity. Congratulations to the newest cohort! 

New Rapid-Response Grantees 

In November, HER announced our newest cohort of grantees funded through our 2025 rapid-response call for proposals. These 8 studies focus on a range of nutrition programs, examining impacts from recent policy changes. Read more about these 8 new projects.  

Maximizing Policy Impact: HER’s 2025 Webinar Series 

This year, Healthy Eating Research launched a webinar series designed to help public health researchers turn evidence into action. Our grantees excel at producing policy-relevant research, and we know how valuable it is to learn from experts about strategies that drive real change. 

That’s why this series focused on the critical intersection of research and policy—offering practical guidance on conducting policy-relevant studies, communicating findings effectively, and leveraging digital platforms to amplify impact. 

Missed a session? Catch up and explore the recordings here.