Age Group: Young adolescents (grades 6 to 8)

Perceived Influence of a State-Level Universal Free School Meal Policy on Households With Varying Income Levels: An Analysis of Parental Perspectives

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This study aimed to evaluate parent perceptions of the influence of Massachusetts’ statewide UFSM policy on households eligible and ineligible for FRPM, using a cross-sectional survey of parents across income categories conducted during the 2022-2023 school year. Participants were Massachusetts parents (N = 403) with children in grades kindergarten through grade 12 with incomes ranging More

Assessing participation in and implementation of summer electronic-benefits-transfer and non-congregate-meal programs in rural areas

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Summer EBT and non-congregate meals are summer meal options that have known associations with reducing food hardship and barriers to food access. But take-up can vary across states, which creates disparities among marginalized populations. The study aims to analyze the coverage, take-up, and implementation decisions made around Summer EBT and non-congregate meals. The research team More

Association Between Child Sugary Drink Consumption and Serum Lipid Levels in Electronic Health Records

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Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) and fruit juice (FJ) consumption may promote lipid abnormalities in childhood. We examined the association between SSB/FJ intake and lipid levels using electronic health record data for 2816 adolescents. Multivariable logistic regression models treated clinical cutpoints for abnormal lipid levels (triglycerides [TG], high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein [LDL], and total cholesterol) as More

Strategies to Increase Student Participation in School Meals in the United States: A Systematic Review

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This paper systematically reviews the evidence on interventions, initiatives, and policies to increase school meal participation in the United States. Four electronic databases were searched (PubMed, Academic Search Ultimate, Education Resources Information Center, and Thomson Reuters’ Web of Science) to identify peer-reviewed and government studies conducted in the United States and published in English through More

Alternative School Breakfast Service Models and Associations with Breakfast Participation, Diet Quality, Body Mass Index, Attendance, Behavior, and Academic Performance: A Systematic Review

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The United States (US) School Breakfast Program provides Breakfast After The Bell (BATB) to alleviate hunger, provide nutrition, and ensure students have a healthy start to the day. This study aims to review the evidence regarding the impact of BATB on students’ diet and academic outcomes, including participation, diet quality and consumption, body mass index More

The Effect of Emergency Rental Assistance on Household and Child Food Hardship

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Housing instability and high housing costs are important correlates of food insecurity, and are disproportionately present for Black, Latino, and single-parent households. Although the last two years witnessed the largest allocation of funding for emergency rental assistance (ERA) in U.S. history, the impact of these programs on children’s outcomes, particularly their health and nutrition, is More

Understanding Barriers and Facilitators of Universal Free School Meals in NYS

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When waivers for Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) ended in 2022, approximately 726,000 students lost access to free meals in New York (NY). This study examines the impact of maintaining (or de-implementing) Universal Free School Meals in NY, especially for Black and Hispanic/Latino families who may be disproportionately impacted by pre-existing inequities. This study will More

Evaluating the Impact of Emergency Food Benefits in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic on Supermarket Purchases among Families with Children

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SNAP and WIC benefits increased in 2020-2021 to combat food insecurity due to COVID-19. Understanding these policies’ impact on household food purchase quality is crucial to guide future recommendations for these nutrition assistance programs. This study aims to assess the effect of changes to SNAP and WIC benefits implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic on the More