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 evaluates costs of school-based water promotion program
A new study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics provides insights into the costs of implementing Water First, a school-based water promotion program shown to prevent overweight in children. Researchers analyzed the...
-
NPI releases research brief on challenges of transitioning from free school meals for all students in Texas schools
A recent research brief developed by the Nutrition Policy Institute highlights the impact of the end of federal waivers on Texas school meal programs, allowing school meals to be served free of charge. During the transition away from federal waivers in...
-
Top health experts release new drink recommendations for kids and teens’ overall health
Experts from leading health and nutrition organizations recommend kids and teens drink plain water, plain pasteurized milk, and limited amounts of 100% fruit and vegetable juice for optimal nutrition and hydration. Other beverages like plant-based milk...
-
Study finds school-based water promotion programs impact children differently based on food insecurity
A recent study highlights how food insecurity may influence the effectiveness of school-based programs aimed at reducing childhood obesity by promoting water consumption and reduced sugar-sweetened beverage intake. Researchers found the Water First...
-
New study shows that long-term investments in community nutrition policies and programs supports healthy food access
A recent study highlights the importance of sustained investment in community nutrition programs and policies to improve healthy food access at home. Children get up to two-thirds of their food from home, making the availability of food in their...
-
NPI releases CalFresh Healthy Living data briefs for federal fiscal year 2024
A new set of data briefs developed by the Nutrition Policy Institute showcases the impactful programming carried out by local health departments through CalFresh Healthy Living (California's SNAP-Ed program) during federal fiscal year 2024. FFY 2024...
-
NPI researchers present at the 45th annual EcoFarm conference
Nutrition Policy Institute researchers Kassandra Bacon and Ron Strochlic present with Hope Sippola of Spork Food Hub at the 2025 annual EcoFarm conference in Pacific Grove, CA. The conference will feature various interactive activities with the...
-
Study on Navajo Nation identifies community involvement and cultural traditions as crucial in promoting drinking water access and reducing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in young children
A 2024 paper describes ongoing community-based work to promote consumption of water in place of sugar-sweetened beverages, SSBs, on Navajo Nation. The Navajo community is disproportionately affected by water insecurity with 30% of households lacking...
-
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 policy 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...