Category: Impact Stories

How Stigma Impacts Participant Experiences with Food Security Programs

By

Written by: Thea Bergen, HER Graduate Student Worker The United States has an extensive network of food banks and government-assisted nutrition programs that play a vital role in helping individuals and families access healthy foods during challenging times. Yet, many individuals who participate in these programs have reported experiencing stigma when seeking assistance. Nutrition assistance More

How providers and practitioners can reduce children’s exposure to unhealthy food marketing

By

Written by: Galiya Chenault, Graduate Student Worker, Healthy Eating Research Unhealthy food marketing contributes to global health issues such as childhood obesity, poor nutrition, and diet-related diseases, making it crucial for professionals who work with children to understand and address its impact. Food and beverage companies often target children with high-sugar, high-fat products across digital More

Healthy Kids, Healthy Future: Advancing Equity in Early Childhood

By

Written by Violet Noe, Lindsey Miller, and Janet Viveiros Violet Noe is a Student Assistant with Healthy Eating Research. Lindsey Miller, MPH, is Senior Research Analyst with Healthy Eating Research. Janet Viveiros, MPP, is Senior Program and Policy Analyst with Nemours Children’s Health. In 2022, Nemours Children’s Health and Healthy Eating Research presented the “Healthy More

Proposed Revisions in the WIC Food Packages: A Review of the Evidence

By

On November 17, 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), announced major food package revisions, the first in over a decade, to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).  Among the proposed changes are suggestions to remove juice from the food packages, reduce the maximum allowance for milk, and require that More

Keeping up with school meals: An update on policies and research

By

Written by Lindsey Miller, MPH, Research Analyst, Healthy Eating Research The national school breakfast and lunch programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are cornerstone federal nutrition assistance programs that support children from low-income families. Children receive up to half of their daily calories at school and school meals offer one of More

Supporting Food and Nutrition Security Through the Charitable Food System

By

Written by Kirsten Arm, MPH, RDN, Research Analyst, Healthy Eating Research During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people receiving charitable food assistance in the United States increased by 50% (2019 vs. 2020) according to estimates from Feeding America. The charitable food system – a network of food banks, food pantries, and meal programs – More

WIC Online Ordering in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Opportunities and Challenges

By

Written by Dr. Harry Zhang, Old Dominion University During the COVID-19 pandemic, online ordering surged in popularity as an alternative method of grocery shopping to reduce the risk of virus infection. But participants in the USDA Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) have historically not been able to participate in online More