Nutrition Policy Institute News

The latest news and updates from the Nutrition Policy Institute at the University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. Sign up to receive Research to Action, the Nutrition Policy Institute's quarterly news brief providing information on research, policy, news, announcements, events, articles and action items focused on nutrition and healthy communities.

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NPI News Archive: 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015

Nutrition Policy Institute News: Article

Mapping opportunities to expand CACFP participation among California family child care homes

March 4, 2026

A new, interactive map explores participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, or CACFP, among family child care homes across California and highlights opportunities to expand access to nutritious meals for young children. Administered in California by the California Department of Social…

Nutrition Policy Institute News: Article

Water Is K’é: using tradition to build healthier hydration habits

March 2, 2026

Can reconnecting with one’s traditional culture be an important key to healthy habits? A recent community-based study evaluated the impact of a culturally-grounded intervention designed to improve beverage consumption habits among young Navajo children. Between 2021 and 2023, 74 families participated in…

Nutrition Policy Institute News: Article

Participation in Child and Adult Care Food Program increases in California following federal COVID-19 reimbursement policy changes

February 25, 2026

The Child and Adult Care Program, or CACFP, is a federally funded program that subsidizes nutritious meals in child care settings. It has been shown to improve diet quality and reduce food insecurity among children in participating child care. However, CACFP participation among family child care home…

Nutrition Policy Institute News: Article

Hannah Thompson presents in March 10 webinar on improving physical activity in schools

February 23, 2026

Director of the Nutrition Policy Institute, Hannah Thompson, will present alongside colleagues from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg American Health Initiative, Erin Hager and Rachel Deitch, in an upcoming webinar through the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research, or NCCOR, Connect &…

Nutrition Policy Institute News: Article

NPI study on universal school meals highlighted as featured paper in Nutrients journal hot topics on nutritional inequality and public policy research

February 17, 2026

Universal school meal programs in all U.S. states were funded by the federal government during school years 2020-2022 to abate heightened rates of food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. California was the first state in the nation to continue funding universal school meals, and Nutrition Policy…