Nutrition policies govern many aspects of the food system impacting food choices and prices in outlets such as grocery stores, restaurants, and schools, thus affecting what we eat. Federal nutrition assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the national school meal programs provide services to children and families with the goal to increase food security and reduce hunger. Research in this area includes evaluating the impacts of nutrition programs and policies on diet quality and overall health, as well as exploring innovative approaches to improve program reach, participation and implementation.
Research & Publications See all
December 2024
Evidence to Support an Additional CACFP Meal Reimbursement for Family Childcare Home Providers
This policy brief provides evidence supporting the need for an increase in the number of reimbursable meals and snacks under the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, also known as CACFP, from three to four per child daily. CACFP provides nutritious meals to nearly 625,000 children attending family childcare homes nationwide, primarily from lower-income More
December 2024
Estimating Young Children’s Exposure to Food and Beverage Marketing on Mobile Devices
Food and beverage marketing drives poor diet quality and obesity risk among children. However, it is unknown how much young children are exposed to digital food and beverage marketing on mobile devices like tablets and smartphones. The objective of this study was to estimate how frequently young children, who are particularly vulnerable to advertising, view More
November 2024
Experiences with COVID-19 economic relief measures among low-wage worker families: a qualitative study
This study aimed to understand experiences with COVID-19 economic relief measures among low-wage worker households with children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews from low-wage workers in households with children in two U.S. cities in 2022 (n = 40). The sample was recruited from a larger study which included survey measures More
November 2024
Understanding Family Financial and Emotional Well-being During the Pandemic
This study focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic-related experiences of non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic families with young children (birth to age 5) and low incomes. Families with low incomes were overrepresented among the unemployed populations in most U.S. metropolitan areas, and a higher percentage of non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic workers with low incomes were displaced for More