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Ages 5-18 Beverage Recommendations
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 have developed evidence-based recommendations to guide healthier drink choices for kids ages 5 to 18. The recommendations address questions and concerns about sugar, caffeine, and other ingredients to promote better overall nutrition and health.
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December 2025
Perspectives on Messaging Strategies to Increase Participation in Universal Free School Meal Programs: A Qualitative Study With Parents of Elementary School-Aged Children
At least eight U.S. states currently offer universal free school meal programs, providing meals at no cost to all students regardless of household income. While marketing campaigns may help increase student participation, limited research has examined what message content and design most effectively motivate parents to encourage school meal use. This qualitative study explored parents’ More
December 2025
Impact of Deimplementing Universal Free School Meals: School Food Authority Perspectives
This study examined the impact of deimplementing universal free school meal (UFSM) policies compared with continuing UFSM at the state level. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in spring 2023 with 941 school food authorities (SFAs) across eight U.S. states, assessing outcomes such as meal participation, foodservice revenues, staffing needs, administrative burdens, stigma, and student meal More
December 2025
Provider, sponsor and family perceptions of Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) participation and COVID-19 reimbursement increases
Family childcare home (FCCH) providers’ participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) has declined, often due to inadequate tiered reimbursements. During COVID-19, federal waivers temporarily removed tiers and raised reimbursement rates, offering insight into program impacts. From September 2023 to February 2024, interviews with California FCCH providers (n=31), CACFP sponsors (n=10), and More
December 2025
“It’s confusing as hell”: A qualitative study of barriers accessing poverty alleviation benefits through the US Earned Income Tax Credit
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the largest U.S. poverty alleviation program, with positive effects on health equity. Over 20% of eligible households do not receive benefits. In this qualitative study, researchers explored benefits of and barriers to EITC receipt among EITC-eligible families through analysis of 40 semi-structured interviews with EITC-eligible parents in California More