Research to Action News Brief

Research to Action, the Nutrition Policy Institute's quarterly news brief, provides information on research, policy, news, announcements, events, articles and action items focused on nutrition and healthy communities.

View previous issues below and sign up to be added to the mailing list.

2024

Volume 8, Number 4: School Meals for All Supports Students and Families [Available in Spanish - Programa Universal de Comidas Escolares Beneficia a Estudiantes y Familias]
Volume 8, Number 3: What is the best type of milk for toddlers?
Volume 8, Number 2: Celebrating a decade of high-impact research for healthy food, people and places
Volume 8, Number 1: School Recess: A Chance to Address Health Inequity Across California

2023

Volume 7, Number 4: Improving Access to Fresh, Local Produce for Incarcerated Californians
Volume 7, Number 3: Join UC Experts in Working to Curb Sugary Drinks
Volume 7, Number 2: Low Receipt of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Among Eligible Families
Volume 7, Number 1: The Nutrition Policy Institute’s Innovating Approach to Evaluating SNAP-Ed

2022

Volume 6, Number 4: A multi-pronged approach to improve college students' food security
Volume 6, Number 3: Support universal school meals
Volume 6, Number 2: Healthy-by-Default beverage laws for kids' meals
Volume 6, Number 1: Policy recommendations to strengthen WIC

2021

Volume 5, Number 3: 2021: Nutrition Policy Institute research highlights
Volume 5, Number 2: Healthy school meals for all
Volume 5, Number 1: Supporting improved food security during the pandemic

2020

Volume 4, Number 4: University students struggle with basic needs
Volume 4, Number 3: Implementing healthy vending guidelines for college campuses
Volume 4, Number 2: Nutrition and physical activity resources during emergency times
Volume 4, Number 1: Promising approaches for healthy food retail interventions

2019

Volume 3, Number 4: SNAP is under attack: our largest food assistance program needs your help
Volume 3, Number 3: The science behind sugar sweetened beverages
Volume 3, Number 2: Turn to the tap!
Volume 3, Number 1: Ten-year study reveals that what communities do impacts child health

2018

Volume 2, Number 4: Improving access to nutritious food in early care and education settings
Volume 2, Number 3: Support school nutrition programs
Volume 2, Number 2: Improving community health, one neighborhood at a time
Volume 2, Number 1: Prevent food waste

2017

Volume 1, Number 4: Support rural food banks
Volume 1, Number 3: Medical and dental providers join forces to limit children's consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages
Volume 1, Number 2: Protect WIC from budget cuts and block granting
Volume 1, Number 1: Improve access to safe drinking water in California

NPI News Blog

New study reveals an association between diet in the first year of life with select nutrient and ultra-processed food consumption in later childhood

A 2024 study analyzing the diets of over 4,300 infants in the United States using the Infant Diet Quality Index, also known as IDQI, revealed associations between diet quality from 0-12 months and select nutrient and ultra-processed food intake later...
Job opening: Cooperative Extension Specialist and Director Nutrition Policy Institute at the University of California

The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources invites applications for a UC Cooperative Extension Specialist to become the next Director of the Nutrition Policy Institute. The Director leads strategic food and nutrition policy...
2024 LEAP Awards recognize excellence in healthy eating and active living across California

The Nutrition Policy Institute's CalFresh Healthy Living Evaluation team, in collaboration with the California Department of Public Health, is thrilled to announce recognition of 129 schools, 79 early care and education programs, and 77 out-of-school...
New research brief provides evidence for additional CACFP meal reimbursements for childcare providers

A new 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...
NPI awarded Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Healthy Eating Research program funding to pilot-test a peer navigator intervention for the Child and Adult Care Food Program

Nutrition Policy Institute researchers were awarded funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Healthy Eating Research program's 2024 call for proposals. NPI's Lorrene Ritchie, in collaboration with the CACFP Roundtable and Susana Matias at the...
Nutrition Policy Institute launches new Spanish-language webpages to enhance accessibility for Spanish-speaking communities

The Nutrition Policy Institute has launched three new Spanish-language web pages, designed to better serve our Spanish-speaking research participants and increase accessibility to and inclusion of the greater Spanish-speaking community. These new pages...
Join us today on Giving Tuesday to support the Nutrition Policy Institute Student Fellowship

Join us today on Giving Tuesday to support the Nutrition Policy Institute Student Fellowship. The fellowship provides invaluable professional experience to undergraduate and graduate students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds,...
Research brief highlights challenges faced by Child and Adult Care Food Program sponsors

A new research brief from the Nutrition Policy Institute, CACFP Roundtable, and University of California, Berkeley highlights the difficulties faced by sponsors of the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, commonly known as CACFP. CACFP provides...
Recent study explores perceptions of Universal School Meals policy by parents across income levels

School meals in the U.S. support 30 million students daily, improving nutrition, academic outcomes, and food security, particularly for disadvantaged households. A recent study led by Juliana Cohen at Merrimack College and Harvard University, in...
New policy briefs highlight the need for expanded shopping options and smartphone app modifications to help WIC participants redeem food benefits

Nutrition Policy Institute, in collaboration with the National WIC Association and Pepperdine University, released two policy briefs encouraging modernization efforts for the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children,...
New infographic highlights improved dietary intake and physical activity among adults participating in CalFresh Healthy Living

CalFresh Healthy Living aims to improve the health and wellbeing of Californians through interventions that promote healthy eating and active living. Interventions include evidence-based nutrition and physical activity education programs delivered to...
New infographic highlights improved dietary intake and physical activity among students participating in CalFresh Healthy Living

CalFresh Healthy Living aims to improve students' health and wellbeing through interventions that promote healthy eating and physical activity. In 2023-24, 92 school and school-based after school sites partnered with the local health department in their...
NPI’s universal school meals research highlighted in Zócalo Public Square essay

In her Zócalo Public Square essay, Nutrition Policy Institute researcher Monica Zuercher explores the benefits of universal school meals, a policy that gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic. With federal support, schools provided free meals...
Study finds universal school meals boost access and ease food insecurity

Household food insecurity remains a significant issue in the U.S., particularly among households with children, highlighting the crucial role of school meal programs in mitigating food insecurity and improving children's health and academic performance....
NPI presents on solid waste reduction achieved by schools transitioning to reusables in school meals at the Green California Schools and Higher Education Summit

Nutrition Policy Institute researcher, Celeste Felix, will present evaluation findings showing reductions in solid waste when a large, urban California school district transitioned from reheated pre-packaged school meals served with single-use...
Job opening: Cooperative Extension Specialist and Director Nutrition Policy Institute at the University of California

The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources invites applications for a UC Cooperative Extension Specialist to become the next Director of the Nutrition Policy Institute. The Director leads strategic food and nutrition policy research,...
New study identifies SNAP shopper and farmers’ market staff perceptions of benefits and challenges of a pilot supplemental benefit model

A 2024 study identified Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP, shopper and farmers' market staff perceptions of the California Fruit and Vegetable Electronic Benefit Transfer Pilot Project. This effort,...
NPI researchers present at annual American Public Health Association conference

The American Public Health Association's 2024 Annual Meeting & Expo will take place in Minneapolis, Minnesota from October 27-29, 2024 to gather nearly 13,000 public health professionals to connect, learn, and inspire each other. This year's...
University of California research group releases new fact sheet on sugary drinks and tooth decay

University of California's Research Consortium on Beverages and Health released a new fact sheet to help educate community members and decision-makers on added-sugar consumption in sugary drinks as a leading cause of tooth decay. The fact sheet,...
NPI submits comments to US Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on drinking water, added sugars and saturated fat

The US Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture encourage public engagement in the development of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee is currently reviewing the latest nutrition...