Category: Impact Stories

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

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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

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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

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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

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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