- Author: Brianna Aguayo Villalon
- Editor: Lorrene Ritchie
- Editor: Danielle Lee
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 program—which installed drinking water stations and promoted drinking water intake in 18 low-income San Francisco Bay Area elementary schools—prevented overweight and increased water intake among over 1,000 fourth-grade students involved in the study. However, a deeper examination of the data revealed that while obesity rates decreased among food-secure students, among food-insecure students there was an increased water intake without a reduction in obesity. Findings emphasize the need to consider food insecurity in future nutrition interventions and strategies. This study was led by Anisha Patel of the Stanford Department of Pediatrics; other members of the study team included Lorrene Ritchie of the Nutrition Policy Institute; Leslie Gerstenfeld and Laura Schmidt of the University of California, San Francisco; Lauren Blacker of the RUSH University Medical College; Charles McCulloch of the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine; and Valeria Ordonez of the Stanford Department of Pediatrics.
- Author: Brianna Aguayo Villalon
- Contributor: Danielle Lee
- Contributor: Lorrene Ritchie
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 household a key role in shaping their diets. Using data from the National Institutes of Health's Healthy Communities Study, researchers found neighborhoods with higher and more stable socioeconomic status over 10 years had greater home availability of healthy foods and lower rate of food insecurity. Additionally, greater exposure to nutrition-focused community programming and policies over 10 years was associated with greater home availability of healthy foods, though there was no relationship with food insecurity. Findings highlight the long-term benefits of consistent investment in such programs and policies, regardless of neighborhood socioeconomic status. Study researchers proposed that future actions to support improved food security and healthy food access should focus on addressing disparities in neighborhood socioeconomic status and investing in long-term, community-wide nutrition programs and policies. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, was conducted by Ian-Marshall Lang from the School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Yeonwoo Kim of the Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at Arlington, Lorrene Ritchie of the Nutrition Policy Institute, Lauren Au of the Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, and Natalie Colabianchi of the Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan.
- Author: Brianna Aguayo Villalon
- Editor: Danielle Lee
- Editor: Monica Daniela Zuercher
- Editor: Wendi Gosliner
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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 collaboration with the Nutrition Policy Institute and other researchers, surveyed 403 Massachusetts parents of varying income levels during the 2022-2023 school year to understand their perception of a statewide universal free school meals policy. Results showed that 75% of parents, regardless of income, supported the policy and recognized its many benefits, including reduced stress, and saving time and money. Parents also expressed concerns that ending the policy would have negative impacts, including: 1) financial strain on households of all income levels; 2) less food security for families who were eligible for federally funded free or reduced-price meals as well as for students from families who were financially vulnerable even though they would not typically qualify for free or reduced-price meals; and 3) reduced school meal participation for the most financially vulnerable students. Researchers recommend considering expanding universal free school meal policies to additional states and at the national level, as such policies improve access to nutrition across all income groups and promote equity, especially in areas of higher living costs. This study was conducted by Christina Hecht, Kenneth Hecht, Dania Orta-Aleman, Lorrene Ritchie, Monica Zuercher, and Wendi Gosliner with the Nutrition Policy Institute; Juliana Cohen with Merrimack College and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Leah Chapman with Merrimack College; Deborah Olarte with New York University; Leran Minc with Project Bread; Punam Ohri-Vachaspati with Arizona State University; Anisha Patel with Stanford University School of Medicine; and Michele Polacsek with the University of New England.
- Author: Brianna Aguayo Villalon
- Editor: Lorrene Ritchie
- Editor: Wendi Gosliner
- Editor: Danielle Lee
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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. Nutrition Policy Institute researchers explored how food security status is related to parental perceptions and student participation in school meals. The study surveyed 1,110 California parents with children in public or charter K-12 schools from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds in California, a state that adopted a universal school meals policy starting in the 2022-23 school year. The study found that 38% of parents who were not income-eligible for federal free or reduced-price school meals reported experiencing household food insecurity. School breakfasts were accessed at a higher rate by families reporting food insecurity compared to those reporting food security. However, parents experiencing food insecurity had less favorable perceptions of school meals and perceived more stigma associated with eating school meals. Interestingly, parents from households of all income levels recognized school meals as beneficial in saving time and money. These findings highlight the importance of universal school meal policies in addressing food insecurity, especially among students who would be excluded from receiving school meals free of charge under the federal eligibility criteria. However, addressing concerns about stigma as well as meal quality and appeal may further ease food insecurity and improve child health. The study was published online in October 2024 in the Nutrients journal, co-authored by NPI researchers Monica Zuercher, Christina Hecht, Kenneth Hecht, Dania Orta-Aleman Dania, Wendi Gosliner and Lorrene Ritchie; Juliana Cohen and Leah Chapman with Merrimack College and Harvard; Deborah Olarte with New York University; and Margaret Read with Partnership for a Healthier America. This research was funded by California General Fund SB 170.
Nutrition Policy Institute, in collaboration with the Dolores Huerta Foundation, Cultiva La Salud, and Stanford Pediatrics, released three infographics with information on school meal programs. The cartoon-style one-pagers were developed after a PhotoVoice project suggested the need for culturally and linguistically relevant materials about school nutrition programs for Spanish-speaking families in California's San Joaquin Valley. The infographics emphasize federal nutrition requirements for school meals, factors influencing school meal offerings, and the role families and youth can play in advocating for changes.
- “What's on the menu?” promotes the benefits to student health and learning from school meals, including an overview of their nutritional components. It is available in Spanish, “¿Qué hay en el Menú de la?”, and complementary English and Spanish videos.
- “What goes into making school meals?” highlights the logistics and other factors that influence how schools provide meals. It is available in Spanish, “¿Qué se Necesita para Preparar las Comidas Escolares?” and complementary English and Spanish videos.
- “Make Your Voice Heard!” highlights avenues for parent and community involvement in advocating for policies and practices related to school meals at local, state, and federal levels. It is available in Spanish, “¡Alza tu Voz!
Parents, youth, school district officials, food service directors in the San Joaquin Valley, and other partners helped to co-create the infographics with designers at Tremendousness. The project partnership includes NPI's senior policy advisor Christina Hecht and policy director Ken Hecht. Initial investigation and infographic content development were funded by the Stanford University Office of Community Engagement, with video development and extended dissemination funded by the Thompson Family Foundation.