Hero Image

Lorrene D Ritchie

Director of the Nutrition Policy Institute and Cooperative Extension Nutrition Specialist
Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI)
1111 Franklin Street
Office 11309
Oakland, CA 94607
510-987-0523
lritchie@ucanr.edu Create VCard

Biography

Lorrene Ritchie, PhD, RD, is the inaugural Director of the Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI) and Cooperative Extension Nutrition Specialist in the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The mission of NPI is to conduct research that informs nutrition policy and programs for healthy children, families, and communities. NPI provides nutrition policy leadership built from ANR's numerous research, and education activities, and works in synergy with research and outreach efforts being conducted throughout the UC system.

Dr. Ritchie has devoted her career to the development of interdisciplinary, science-based and culturally relevant solutions to poor diet and food security. She has conducted studies in numerous settings on the impact of nutrition policies and programs. Current research interests include evaluation of the relationship of school-level programs and policies on student dietary intakes, the impact of policy on nutrition practices in child care settings, and the relationship of federal, state and community-level programs and policies with child nutrition, weight status and health.

Education

Ph.D. Nutritional Sciences, UC Berkeley. 1995
RD , University of California, Berkeley. 1995
M.S. Nutrtional Sciences, UC Berkeley. 1990
B.S. Chemistry, San Jose State University. 1985

Discipline

Nutrition

Specialty

Childhood, Food Security, Obesity Prevention, Public health

Areas of Expertise (click to see all ANR academics with this expertise)

Files

Bibliography

Peer Reviewed

  • Martinez SM, Singh S, Esaryk E, Ritchie L. SNAP student rules are not so snappy: Lessons learned from a qualitative study of county agency workers. J Nutr Ed Behav 2024;56:133-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2023.12.004.

  • Zuercher MD, Cohen JFW, Ohri-Vachaspati P, Hecht CA, Hecht K, Patel AI, Olarte DA, Chapman LE, Reach M, Schwartz MB, Ritchie LD, Gosliner W (joint last authors). Parent perceptions of school meals influence student participation in school meal programs. J Nutr Ed Behav 2024;56:230-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2024.01.003

  • Zuercher MD, Orta-Aleman D, Cohen JFW, Hecht CA, Hecht K, Poloacsek M, Patel AI, Ritchie LD, Gosliner W. The Benefits and Challenges of Providing School Meals during the First Year of California’s Universal School Meal Policy as Reported by School Foodservice Professionals. Nutrients 2024;16:1812. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16121812

  • Chaney AM, Anderson CE, Arnold CD, Whaley SE, Ritchie LD, Pundi GR, Nguyen CJ, Au LE. Evaluating the association of the increase in the WIC cash value benefit on the diversity of MyPlate fruits and vegetables redeemed and consumed by children in low-income households. Curr Dev Nutr 2024;8:103778. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.103778

  • Hecht AA, Gosliner W, Turner L, Hecht K, Hecht CA, Ritchie LD, Polacsek M, Cohen JFW. School Meals for All: A qualitative study exploring lessons in successful advocacy and policymaking in Maine and California. J Acad Nutr Diet 2024;May 6:S2212-2672(24)00206-5. https:/doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2024.04.018.

  • Chapman LE, Gosliner W, Olarte DA, Ritchie LD, Schwartz MB, Polacsek M, Hecht CE, Hecht K, Turner L, Patel AI, Zuercher MD, Read M, Daly TP, Cohen JFW. Universal School Meals During the Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Parent Perceptions From California and Maine. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2024 May 11:S2212-2672(24)00217-X. https://doi.org/0.1016/j.jand.2024.05.005

  • Tsai MM, Anderson CE, Whaley SE, Yepez CE, Ritchie LD, Au LE. Associations of increased WIC benefits for fruits and vegetables with food security and satisfaction by race and ethnicity. Prev Chron Dis 2024;21:E19. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd21.230288

  • Ritchie LD, Bacon KA, Felix C, Lee DL, Marshall SK, Vitale EH, Matias SL. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Family Childcare Home Providers’ Perceptions of Impacts of Increased Meal and Snack Reimbursement Rates During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Nutrients 2024;16(19):3241. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16193241

  • Zuercher MD, Cohen JFW, Hecht CE, Hecht K, Orta-Aleman D, Olarte DA, Chapman LE, Read M, Ritchie LD, Gosliner W (joint last authors). Household food insecurity is associated with parental perceptions of and student participation in school meals. Nutrients 2024;16:3375. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16193375

  • Lang I, Kim Y, Ritchie LD, Au LE, Colabianchi N. Looking to the past: Investigating 10-year place histories as a determinant of home food environments in the Healthy Communities Study. Social Sci Med 2024:363: 117478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117478

  • Chaney AM, Arnold CD, Frongillo EA, Ritchie LD, Steele EM, Au LE. Infant diet quality index predicts nutrients of concern and ultra-processed food intake in low-income children in the United States. Curr Dev Nutr 2024;8:104483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.104483

  • Orta-Aleman D, Zuercher MD, Bacon KA, Chelius C, Hecht CE, Hecht K, Ritchie LD, Cohen JFW, Gosliner W. Students’ Perspectives on the Benefits and Challenges of Universal School Meals Related to Food Accessibility, Stigma, Participation, and Waste. J Nutr Ed Behav 2024;0001-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2024.04.011.

  • Zuercher MD, Cohen JFW, Ohri-Vachaspati P, Hecht CA, Hecht K, Polacsek M, Olarte DA, Read M, Patel AI, Schwartz MB, Chapman L, Orta-Aleman D, Ritchie LD, Gosliner W (joint last authors). Parent perceptions of school meals and how perceptions differ by race and ethnicity. Health Affairs Scholar 2024;2:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1093/haschl/qxad092

  • Zaltz DA, Lee DL, Woodward-Lopez G, Ritchie LD, Bleich SN, Benjamin-Neelon SE. Adherence to healthy default beverage laws for children’s meals in 3 U.S. cities. Am J Prev Med 2023;S0749-3797(23)00033-8. https://doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2023.01.023.

  • Au LE, Arnold CD, Ritchie LD, Frongillo EA. The Infant Diet Quality Index predicts dietary and adiposity outcomes in U.S. children 2-4 years old. J Nutr 2023;153:741-8. https://10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.01.037.

  • Anderson CE, Au LE, Yepez CE, Ritchie LD, Tsai MM, Whaley SE. Increased WIC Cash Value Benefit is associated with greater amount and diversity of redeemed fruits and vegetables among participating households. Curr Dev Nutr 2023;7:101986. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.101986

  • Patel I, Schmidt LA, McCulloch CE, Blacker L, Cabana MD, Brindis CD, Ritchie LD. Effectiveness of a School Drinking Water Promotion and Access Program for Overweight Prevention. Pediatrics 2023;152:e2022060021. https://org/10.1542/peds.2022-060021

  • Whaley SE, Anderson CE, Tsai MM, Yepez CE, Ritchie LD, Au LE. Increased WIC benefits for fruits and vegetables increases food security and satisfaction among California households with young children. J Acad Nutr Diet 2023;123:1440-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2023.05.018.

  • National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2023. Complementary feeding interventions for infants and young children under age 2: Scoping of promising interventions to implement at the community or state level. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/27239.

  • Lee DL, Alkon A, Strochlic R, Srivastava D, Neelon M, Keeton VF, Ritchie LD. Online training for child care providers teaches child nutrition in English and Spanish. Calif Agr 2023;76:131-40. https://doi.org/10.3733/ca.2022a0015.

  • Ritchie L, Horowitz M, Feenstra G. What have we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen the health and resilience of California communities and the food system? Calif Agr 2023;77(3-4). https://doi.org/10.3733/ca.2024a0003

  • Au LE, Arnold CD, Ritchie LD, Lin SK, Frongillo EA. Differences in Infant Diet Quality Index by race and ethnicity predict differences in later diet quality. J Nutr 2023;153:3498-3505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.10.010

  • Chaney AM, Ritchie LD, Whaley SE, Tsai MM, Randel-Schreiber HR, Yepez CE, Sabatier S, Young A, Meza M, Au LE. Racial and ethnic comparisons in satisfaction with services provided by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children in California. Nutrients 2023;15:447. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15020447.

  • Au LE, Whaley SE, Hecht CA, Tsai MM, Anderson CE, Chaney AM, Vital N, Martinez CE, Ritchie LD. A qualitative examination of California WIC participants’ and local agency directors’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Acad Nutr Diet 2022;122:2218-2227. https://doi:10.1016/j.jand.2022.07.003.

  • Martinez CE, Ritchie LD, Lee DL, Tsai MM, Anderson CE, Whaley SE. California WIC Participants Report Favorable Impacts of the COVID-related Increase to the WIC Cash Value Benefit. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022;19:10604. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710604

  • Martinez SM, Chodur M, Esaryk E, Kaladijian S, Ritchie LD, Grandner M. Campus food pantry use is linked to better health among public university students. J Nutr Ed Behav 2022;54:491-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2022.03.001 (among top most read JNEB articles in first quarter 2022)

  • Lee DL, Homel Vitale E, Marshall SK-D, Hecht C, Beck LT, Ritchie LD. Child and Adult Care Food Program Participation Benefits, Barriers and Facilitators for Independent Child Care Centers. Nutrients 2022;14:4449. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14214449 

  • Heiges J, Lee DL, Vollmer L, Wobbekind K, Thompson H, Gosliner W, Madsen K, O’Neill K, Ritchie LD. Evaluating food packaging waste in schools: a systematic literature review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022;19:5607. https://doi.10.3390/Int J Environ Res Public Health 19095607

  • Esaryk EE, Moffat LF, Ritchie LD, Martinez SM. Helping college students get Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Facilitators of and barriers to students accessing the federal nutrition assistance program. J Nutr Ed Behav 2022;54:422-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2022.02.008

  • Thompson HR, Machado SS, Madsen KA, Cauchon-Robles R, Neelon M, Ritchie L. Impact of a teacher intervention to encourage students to eat school lunch. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022;19:11553. https://doi.org/10.3390/Int J Environ Res Public Health 191811553

  • Machado S, Brewster A, Shapiro V, Ritchie L, Magee K, Madsen K. Implementation leadership in school nutrition: A qualitative study. J Nutr Ed Behav. 2022;54:55-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2021.08.011

  • Cohen JFW, Polacsek M, Hecht CE, Hecht K, Read M, Olarte D, Patel AI, Schwartz MB, Turner L, Zuercher M, Gosliner W, Ritchie LD. (joint last authors) Implementation of Universal School Meals during COVID-19 and beyond: Challenges and Benefits for School Meals Programs in Maine. Nutrients 2022;14:4031. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14194031

  • Tsai M, Au L, Ritchie L, Anderson C, Martinez C, Whaley S. Larger WIC Cash Value Benefit for Vegetables and Fruit Is Associated With Lower Food Insecurity and Improved Participant Satisfaction in WIC Families With Children. Curr Dev Nutr 2022;6(Supplement 1):231. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzac048.045

  • Anderson, CE; O’Malley, KE, et al. (2022). Longer family participation in WIC is associated with lower childhood sugar-sweetened beverage intake. J Nutr Ed Behav. 1-10. January 6. In press

  • Anderson CE, O’Malley KE, Martinez CE, Ritchie LD, Whaley SE. Longer family participation in WIC is associated with lower childhood sugar-sweetened beverage intake. J Nutr Ed Behav 2022 Jan 6;S1499-4046(21)00861-7. https://doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2021.10.003]https://doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2021.10.003.

  • Anderson CE, Martinez CE, O’Malley K, Ritchie LD, Whaley SE. Longer participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children is not associated with reduced sugar-sweetened beverage intake among Black participants. Nutrients 2022:14:1048. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14051048 

  • Anderson CE, Martinez CE, Ritchie LD, Paolicelli C, Reat A, Borger C, Whaley SE. Longer WIC participation duration is associated with higher diet quality at age 5 years. J Nutr 2022:June 10. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxac134 

  • Zuercher MD, Cohen JFW, Hecht CE, Hecht K, Ritchie LD, Gosliner W. (joint last authors) Providing School Meals to All Students Free of Charge During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond: Challenges and Benefits Reported by School Foodservice Professionals in California. Nutrients 2022;14:3855. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14183855

  • Thompson H, Borger C, Paolicelli C, Whaley SE, Reat A, Ritchie L. The relationship between breastfeeding and initial vegetable introduction with vegetable consumption at ages 1-5 years. Nutrients 2022;14:1740. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14091740.

  • Ezennia J, Blacker L, Schmidt LA, Ritchie L, McCulloch C, Patel AI. The relationship between perceptions of tap water and water intake at school. Acad Peds 2022;May 7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2022.04.008 

  • Moreno, GD; Schmidt, LA, et al. (2021). A cluster-randomized controlled trial of an elementary school drinking water access and promotion intervention: Rationale, study design, and protocol. Contemp Clin Trials. 101, 106255. https://doi.10.1016/j.cct.2020.106255
  • Lepe, GM; Schmidt, L, et al. (2021). A cluster-randomized controlled trial of an elementary school drinking water access and promotion intervention: rationale, study design, and protocol. Contemp Clin Trials. (In press)
  • Au, LE; Ritchie, LD, et al. (2021). Alignment of California WIC participant preferences with proposed WIC food package recommendations. J Nutr Educ Behav. 53, 60-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2020.09.014
  • Hazard, K; Lee, D, et al. (2021). Development of an online curriculum for California early care and education providers on healthy beverages. BMC Public Health. 21, 13. July. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11428-x
  • Laraia, B; Leung, C, et al. (2021). Drive for thinness in adolescents predicts greater adult BMI in the Growth and Health Study Cohort over 20 years. Obesity. 29, 2126-2133. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23285
  • Thompson, IJB; Ritchie, LD, et al. (2021). Earlier introduction to sugar-sweetened beverages associated with lower diet quality among WIC children at age 3 years. J Nutr Ed Behav. 53, 912-920. https://doi.org.10.1016/j.jneb.2021.04.468
  • Madsen, KA; Thompson, HR, et al. (2021). Effect of school-based body mass index reporting in California public schools: A randomized trial. JAMA Pediatr. 175, 251-259. https://doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.4768]https://doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.4768
  • Tsai, M; Frongillo, EA, et al. (2021). Factor analysis reduces complex measures of nutrition environments in U.S. elementary and middle schools into cohesive dimensions in the Healthy Communities Study. J Nutr. 00, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxaa450
  • Navarro, S; Tsai, M, et al. (2021). Household food insecurity and children’s physical activity: The Healthy Communities Study. Public Health Nutr. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980021002536
  • Machado, S; Brewster, A, et al. (2021). Implementation leadership in school nutrition: A qualitative study. J Nutr Ed Behav. Oct. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2021.08.011
  • Ritchie, LD; Lessard, L, et al. (2021). Kids’ meal beverages: Comparison of offerings before and after 2019 healthy default beverage policy in California and Wilmington, Delaware restaurants. Public Health Nutr. 12, 1-11. April. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980021001245
  • Ritchie, LD; Keeton, V, et al. (2021). Nutrition standards for infants and young children can be implemented by family child care home providers. Global Pediatr Health. 8, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1177/2333794X21989555
  • Moffat, LF; Ritchie, LD, et al. (2021). Perceived produce availability is associated with child fruit and vegetable intake: The Healthy Communities Study. Nutrients. 13, 3681. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13113681
  • Lee, DL (2021). Policy Brief: More Veggies and Fruits for WIC Families is a Win for California and the Nation.L. Ritchie. Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Public Health Foundation Enterprises-WIC. December 6. https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=51098
  • Martinez, SM; Esaryk, E, et al. (2021). Redefining student basic needs in higher education: It’s more than minimal food and housing according to California college students. Am J Health Promot. 35, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890117121992295
  • Lee, DL; Alkon, A, et al. (2021). Self-paced online training on healthy beverage policy for child care providers. J Nutr Ed Behav. 53, P456-470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2021.02.007
  • Borger, C; Paolicelli, C, et al. (2021). Shifts in sources of food but stable nutritional outcomes among children in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 18, 12626. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312626
  • Weinfield, NS; Borger, C, et al. (2021). WIC Participation Linked to Higher Diet Quality Among Young Children. Policy Brief. Center for Poverty & Inequality Research. June. https://poverty.ucdavis.edu/sites/main/files/file-attachments/au_wic_brief.pdf?1621771084
  • Au, LE; Ritchie, LD, et al. (2020). Alignment of California WIC participant preferences with proposed WIC food package recommendations. J Nutr Ed Behav. S1499-4046. Oct 31. https://doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2020.09.014
  • Lee, DL; Traseira, R, et al. (2020). Alignment of state regulations with breastfeeding and beverage best practices for childcare centers and family childcare homes, United States. Public Health Rep. 136. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033354920964156
  • Collie-Akers, VL; Fawcett, SB, et al. (2020). Association of multisetting community programs and policies with child body mass index: The Healthy Communities Study. Prev Chron Dis. 17, E34. https://doi:10.5888/pcd17.190196
  • Black, MM; Singhal, A, et al. (2020). Building Future Health and Well-Being of Thriving Toddlers and Young Children. Geneva, 95th Nestlé Nutrition Institute Workshop. September.
  • Gúrzo, K; Lee, DL, et al. (2020). Child care sites participating in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program provide more nutritious foods and beverages. J Nutr Ed Behav. 52, 697-704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2020.02.009
  • Scott-Sheldon, LAJ; Hedges, LV, et al. (2020). Childhood Obesity Evidence Base Project: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of a New Taxonomy of Intervention Components to Improve Weight Status in Children 2-5 Years of Age, 2005-2019. Child Obes. 16:S2, 21-28. https://doi:10.1089/chi.2020.0139]https://doi:10.1089/chi.2020.0139
  • King, H; Magnus, M, et al. (2020). Childhood Obesity Evidence Base Project: Methods for Taxonomy Development for Application in Taxonomic Meta-Analysis. Child Obes. 16:S2, 8-20. https://doi.10.1089/chi.2020.0138

  • Plimier CC, Hewawitharana SC, Webb KL, Au LE, Neumark-Sztainer D, Ritchie LD (2019). Community-level obesity is not associated with dieting behaviours and weight dissatisfaction in children: The Healthy Communities Study. Pediatric Obesity. 1-9. 

  • Patel, Anisha I; Mary, Podrabsky., et al. (2020). Development and validation of a photo-evidence tool to examine characteristics of effective drinking water access in schools. Journal of School Health. 90, 271-277. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12873
  • Patel, AI; Hecht, CE, et al. (2020). Drinking water in the United States: Implications of water safety, access and consumption. Annual Rev Nutr. 40, 345-373. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-nutr-122319-035707
  • Tan, ML; Laraia, B, et al. (2020). Effects of the Community Eligibility Provision on school breakfast and lunch participation. J Sch Health. 04. Aug. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12942
  • A, Karpyn; L, Lessard, et al. (2020). Healthy default beverage policies for kids’ meals: A statewide baseline assessment of restaurant managers’ perceptions and knowledge in Delaware. Prev Med Rep. 20, 101272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101272
  • Karpyn, A; Lessard, L, et al. (2020). Healthy default beverage policies for kids’ meals: A statewide baseline assessment of restaurant managers’ perceptions and knowledge in Delaware. Prev Med Rep. 20, 101272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101272
  • Thompson, HR; Ritchie, LD, et al. (2020). Impact of a district-wide chocolate milk removal policy on urban secondary students’ milk selection and consumption. Prev Chron Dis. 17, 200033. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd17.200033
  • Weinfield, NS; Borger, C, et al. (2020). Longer participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is associated with better diet quality in 24-month old children. J Acad Nutr Diet. 120, 963-971. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2019.12.012
  • Lee, Daniel; Gurzo, Klara, et al. (2020). Nutrition offered to infants in licensed childcare centers and homes: a descriptive study. Matern child Health J. 24, 932-942. https://doi:10.1089/chi.2018.0092
  • Gosliner, W; Chen, WT, et al. (2020). Participants’ experiences of the 2018-2019 government shutdown and subsequent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit disruption can inform future policy. Nutrients. 12, 1867-1887. https://doi:10.3390/nu12061867
  • Au, LE; Ritchie, LD, et al. (2020). Post Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act adherence to select school nutrition standards by region and poverty level: The Healthy Communities Study. J Nutr Ed Behav. 52, 249-258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2019.10.016
  • Ritchie, LD (2020). School meals matter: Federal policy can improve children’s nutrition and health. Public Health Nutr. 1-3. https://doi:10.1017/S1368980020002591 [Invited commentary]
  • Madsen, KA; Thompson, HR, et al. (2020). School-based body mass index reporting: A cluster-randomized trial in California public schools. JAMA Pediatr. Nov. https://doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.4768
  • Lee, DL; Gurzo, K, et al. (2020). Status of beverages served to young children in child care after implementation of California policy, 2012-2016. Prev Chron Dis. 17, 190296. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd17.190296
  • Thompson, HR; Gosliner, W, et al. (2020). The impact of a multipronged intervention to increase school lunch participation among secondary school students in an urban public school district. Child Obes. 16, S14-S22. https://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2019.0233
  • Kim, Y; Ritchie, L, et al. (2020). The role of neighborhood social environment in physical activity among Hispanic children: Moderation by cultural factors and mediation by neighborhood norms related to physical activity. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 17, 9527. https://doi:10.3390/ijerph17249527
  • Harpainter, P; Hewawitharana, SC, et al. (2020). Voluntary kids’ meal beverage standards associated with healthier restaurant beverage practices: evaluating California’s healthy default beverage law. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 17, 5275. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155275

  • Martinez S, Grandner M, Nazmi A, Canedo ER, Ritchie LD (2019). Pathways from food insecurity to health outcomes among California university students. Nutrients. 11, 1419.

  • Au LE, Paolicelli C, Gurzo K, Ritchie LD, Whaley SE (2019). Contribution of WIC-eligible foods to the overall diet of 13- and 24-month-old toddlers in the WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study-2. J Acad Nutr Diet. 119, 435-448. 

  • Au, LE; Zhu, SM, et al. (2019). Household food insecurity is associated with higher adiposity among U.S. schoolchildren ages 10-15 years: The Healthy Communities Study. J Nutr. 149, 1642-1650.

  • Machado S, Ibarra A, Thompson H, Ritchie L, Madsen K (2019). Multi-pronged intervention to increase secondary student participation in school lunch: Design and rationale. Contemp Clin Trials. 78, 133-139.

  • Whaley, SE; Martinez, C, et al. (2019). Predictors of WIC participation through 2 years of age. J Nutr Ed Behav. 0000, 1-8. https://doi.10.1016/j.jneb.2019.12.015

  • Tsai M, Ritchie LD, Ohri-Vachaspati P, Au LE (2019). Student perception of healthfulness, school lunch healthfulness and participation in school lunch: The Healthy Communities Study. J Nutr Ed Behav. 51, 623-628. 

  • Crawford PB, Gosliner W, Hecht K, Ritchie LD (2019). UC ANR research informs, influences and strengthens fruit and vegetable programs and policies. Cal Ag. 73, 19-24. 

  • Nazmi A, Martinez S (2018). A systematic review of food insecurity among U.S. students in higher education. Hunger Env Nutr. June 22. https://doi.org/10.1080/19320248.2018.1484316
  • Ritchie LD, Woodward-Lopez G (2018). Associations of community programs and policies with children's dietary intakes: the Healthy Communities Study. Pediatr Obes. 13:Suppl 1, 14-26.
  • Tan ML, Laraia B (2018). Child food insecurity is associated with energy intake among fourth and fifth grade girls. J Acad Nutr Diet. Oct 11.
  • Woodward-Lopez G, Gosliner W (2018). Community characteristics modify the relationship between obesity prevention efforts and dietary outcomes in children in the Healthy Communities Study. Pediatr Obes. 13:Suppl 1, 46-55.

  • Hewawitharana SC, Thompson FE, Loria CM, Strauss W, Nagaraja J, Ritchie L, Webb KL (2018). Comparison of the NHANES Dietary Screener Questionnaire to the Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour Recall for Children in the Healthy Communities Study. Nutr J. Oct 11.

  • Au LE, Gurzo K (2018). Diet quality of U.S. infants 7-24 months old in the WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study-2. J Nutr. 148, 1786-93.
  • Au LE, Gurzo K (2018). Eating school meals daily is associated with healthier dietary intakes. J Acad Nutr Diet. 118, 1474-1481.
  • Webb KL, Hewawitharana SC (2018). Features of nutrition-related community policies and programs associated with more healthful dietary intakes among children; findings from the Healthy Communities Study. Pediatr Obes. 13:Suppl 1, 103-112.
  • Altman EA, Ritchie LD (2018). Food insecurity is associated with body dissatisfaction among children in California. J Acad Nutr Diet. Aug 31.
  • Martinez SM, Frongillo EA (2018). No food for thought: Food insecurity is related to poor mental health and lower academic performance among students in California's public university system. J Health Psychol. June 1. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105318783028
  • Lee DL, Gúrzo K (2018). Policy and Practice in ECE: Compliance with the new 2017 Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal patterns prior to implementation. Child Obes. 14, 393-402.
  • Au LE, Crawford PB (2018). School wellness committees and policy implementation are associated with lower body mass index z-scores and improved dietary intakes in U.S. schoolchildren: The Healthy Communities Study. J School Health. 88, 627-635.
  • Leung CW, DiMatteo SG (2018). Sugar-sweetened beverage and water intake in relation to diet quality in U.S. children. Am J Prev Med. 54, 394-402.
  • Strauss WJ, Nagaraja J (2018). The longitudinal relationship between community programs and policies to prevent childhood obesity and BMI in children: The Healthy Communities Study Team. Pediatr Obes. 13:Suppl 1, 82-92.
  • Cates S, Blitstein J (2018). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support. WIC Nutrition Education Study: Phase II Final Report.
  • Cates S, Blitstein J (2018). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support. WIC Nutrition Education Study: Phase II Final Report. September. https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/special-supplemental-nutrition-program-women-infants-and-children-wic-nutrition-education-study
  • Borger C, Weinfield N (2018). WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study – 2: Second Year Report. Prepared by Westat under Contract No. AG-3198-K-11-0073. Alexandria, VA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. Project Officer: Courtney Paolicelli. April. https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/wic-infant-and-toddler-feeding-practices-study-2-second-year-report
  • Whaley SE, Whaley M (2017). Breastfeeding is associated with higher retention on WIC after age 1. J Nutr Ed Behav. 49, 810-16.
  • Frongillo EA, Fawcett SB (2017). Community policies and programs to prevent obesity and child adiposity. Am J Prev Med. 53, 576-83.
  • Martinez SM, Webb K (2017). Food insecurity in California’s public university system: What are the risk factors? J Hunger Env Nutr. Nov 21.
  • Keihner A, Rosen N (2017). Impact of California Children’s Power Play! Campaign on fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity among fourth- and fifth-grade students. Am J Health Promot. 31, 189-91.
  • Strochlic R, Au LE (2017). Is urban–rural location associated with weight status in school children? An examination of 42 small and rural Californian counties. Rural Remote Health. 17, 3966.
  • Leonard SA, Petito LC (2017). Maternal history of child abuse and obesity risk in offspring: Mediation by weight in pregnancy. Child Obes. 13, 259-66.
  • Au LE, Whaley S (2017). Online and in-person group nutrition education reduces sodium intake: A randomized trial to assess knowledge, self-efficacy and behaviors in WIC participants. J Am Acad Nutr. 117, 1384-95.
  • Abrams B, Coyle J (2017). Preventing excessive gestational weight gain could reduce maternal obesity at age 40: An analysis of a nationally representative sample. Am J Public Health. 107, 1463-14.
  • Au LE, Rosen NJ (2017). Salad bar characteristics in relation to diet quality of school children. Health Behav Policy Rev. 4, 3-12.
  • Madsen KA, Linchey J (2017). The Fit Study: Design and rationale for a cluster randomized trial of school-based BMI screening and reporting. Contemp Clin Trials. 58, 40-6.
  • Leonard SA, Petito LC (2017). Weight gain in pregnancy and child weight status from birth to adulthood in the United States. Pediatr Obes. 12 Suppl 1, 18-25.
  • May L, Borger C (2017). WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study – 2: Infant Year Report. Prepared by Westat under Contract No. AG-3198-K-11-0073. Alexandria, VA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. Project Officer: Allison Magness. January. https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/wic-infant-and-toddler-feeding-practices-study-2-infant-year-report
  • Rehkopf DH, Headen I (2016). Adverse childhood experiences and later life adult obesity and smoking in the United States. Ann Epidemiol. 26, 488-492.
  • Au LE, Rosen NJ (2016). Eating school lunch is associated with higher diet quality among elementary school students. J Acad Nutr Diet. 116, 1817-24.
  • Au LE, Whaley S (2016). If you build it they will come: Satisfaction and utilization of WIC participants with online and traditional in-person nutrition education. J Nutr Ed Behav. 48, 336-42.
  • Au LE, Whaley S (2016). Online and in-person nutrition education improves breakfast knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of WIC participants. J Acad Nutr Diet. 116, 490-500.
  • Ritchie L, Rosen NJ (2016). School breakfast policy is associated with dietary intake of fourth and fifth grade students. J Acad Nutr Diet. 116, 449-57.
  • Prather AA, Leung C (2016). Short and sweet: Associations between self-reported sleep duration and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among adults in the United States. Sleep Health. 2, 272-6.
  • Fram MS, Ritchie LD (2015). Child experience of food insecurity is associated with child diet and physical activity. J Nutr. 145, 499-504.
  • Ritchie LD, Yoshida S (2015). Drinking water in California child care site before and after 2011-2012 beverage policy. Prev Chron Dis. 12, E89.
  • Fenton K, Rosen NJ (2015). Eat lunch first or play first? Inconsistent associations with fruit and vegetable consumption in elementary school. J Acad Nutr Diet. 115, 585-92.
  • Olsho LEW, Klerman JA (2015). Increasing child fruit and vegetable intake: Findings from the US Department of Agriculture Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. J Acad Nutr Diet. 115, 1283-90.
  • John LV, Gregoriou M (2015). Operational Implementation of the Healthy Communities Study: How Communities Shape Children's Health. Am J Prev Med. 49, 631-5.
  • Madsen KA, Cotterman C (2015). Passive commuting is associated with increased dietary intake in 4th and 5thgrade students. Am J Prev Med. 48, 292-9.
  • Ritchie LD, Sharma S (2015). Policy improves what beverages are served to young children in childcare. J Acad Nutr Diet. 115, 724-30.
  • Ritchie LD, Wakimoto P (2015). The Healthy Communities Study nutrition assessments: Child diet and the school nutrition environment. Am J Prev Med. 49, 647-52.
  • Arteaga SS, Loria CM (2015). The Healthy Communities Study: Its rationale, aims and approach. Am J Prev Med. 49, 615-23.
  • Leung CW, Epel ES (2014). Food insecurity is inversely associated with diet quality of lower-income adults. J Acad Nutr Diet. 114, 1943-1953.
  • Robinson CA, Cohen AK (2014). Pregnancy and post-delivery maternal weight changes and overweight in preschool children. Prev Med. 60, 77-82.
  • Ritchie LD, Whaley SE (2014). Satisfaction of California WIC participants with food package changes. J Nutr Ed Behav. 46, S71-S78.
  • Bartlett S, Olsho L (2013). Evaluation of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP): Executive Summary. Prepared by Abt Associates under Contract No. AG-3198-D-09-0053. Alexandria, VA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. Project Officers: Karen Castellanos-Brown and Allison Magness.
  • Bartlett S, Olsho L (2013). Evaluation of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP): Final Evaluation Report. Prepared by Abt Associates under Contract No. AG-3198-D-09-0053. Alexandria, VA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. Project Officers: Karen Castellanos-Brown and Allison Magness.
  • Kim LP, Whaley SE (2013). Mothers prefer fresh fruits and vegetables over jarred baby fruits and vegetables in the New Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children Food Package. J Nutr Ed Behav. 45, 732-7.
  • Hoelscher D, Kirk S (2013). Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Interventions for the prevention and treatment of pediatric overweight and obesity. J Acad Nutr Diet. 113, 1375-94.
  • Ritchie, LD (2012). Less frequent eating predicts greater BMI and waist circumference in female adolescents. Am J Clin Nutr. 95, 290-6.
  • Soldavini J, Crawford P (2012). Nutrition claims impact children’s health perceptions and taste preferences. J Nutr Ed Behav. 44, 624-27.
  • Ritchie LD, Boyle M (2012). Participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program is associated with more nutritious foods and beverages in child care. Child Obes. 8, 236-41.
  • Whaley SE, Ritchie LD (2012). Revised WIC food package improves diets of WIC families. J Nutr Ed Behav. 44, 204-9.
  • O'Brien KO, Donangelo CM (2012). Serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and calcium intake impact rates of bone calcium deposition during pregnancy and the early postpartum period. Am J Clin Nutr. 96, 64-72.
  • Ritchie LD, Raman A (2011). Dietary intakes of urban African American children: Both family and child dietary attributes predict child intakes. J Nutr Ed Behav. 43, 236-43.
  • Danaher C, Fredericks D (2011). Early childhood feeding practices improved after short-term intervention with pediatricians and parents. Child Obes. 7, 480-7.
  • Ritchie LD, Whaley SE (2010). Favorable impact of nutrition education on WIC families. J Nutr Ed Behav. 42, S2-S10.
  • Gosliner WA, James P (2010). Impact of a worksite wellness program on the nutrition and physical activity environment of child care centers. Am J Health Prom. 24, 186-9.
  • Raman A, Ritchie LD (2010). Insulin resistance is improved in overweight African American boys but not in girls following a one-year multidisciplinary community intervention program. J Pediatr Endocrin Metab. 23, 109-20.
  • Fung EB, Ritchie LD (2010). Randomized controlled trial to examine the impact of providing yogurt to women enrolled in WIC. J Nutr Ed Behav. 42, S22-S29.
  • Ritchie LD, Sharma S (2010). Taking Action Together: A YMCA-based protocol to prevent Type-2 Diabetes in high-BMI inner-city African American children. Trials. 11, 60-73.
  • Woodward-Lopez G, Kao J (2010). To what extent have sweetened beverages contributed to the obesity epidemic? Public Health Nutr.
  • Ontai L, Ritchie L (2009). Guiding family-based obesity prevention efforts in children, Part 1: What determinants do we target? Int J Child Adolesc Health. 2, 19-30.
  • Townsend MS, Young T (2009). Guiding family-based obesity prevention efforts in children, Part 2: What behaviors do we measure? Int J Child Adolesc Health. 2, 31-48.
  • Ritchie LD, Martin AC (2009). Teaching kids what to eat where they eat: developing and pilot testing the Nutrition Education in Foodservice Toolkit. J Ext. 47, 7RIB4.
  • Crawford P, Woodward-Lopez G (2008). How discretionary can we be with sweetened beverages for children? J Am Diet Assoc. 108, 1440-4.
  • Ritchie LD, Spector P (2007). Dietary patterns in adolescence are related to adiposity in young adulthood in Black and White females. J Nutr. 137, 399-406.
  • Ritchie LD, Woodward-Lopez G (2007). Preventing obesity: What should we eat? Cal Ag. 61, 112-8.
  • Crawford PB, Wang M (2006). Disparities in obesity: prevalence, causes, and solutions. J Hunger Env Nutr. 1, 27-48.
  • Ritchie LD, Hoelscher M (2006). Position of the American Dietetic Association: Individual-, family-, school-, and community-based interventions for pediatric overweight. J Am Diet Assoc. 106, 925-45.
  • Wang MC, Gonzalez AA (2006). The neighborhood food environment: Sources of historical data on retail food stores. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 3, 15-19.
  • Ritchie LD, Welk G (2005). Family environment and pediatric overweight: What is a parent to do? J Am Diet Assoc. 105, S70-S79.
  • Crawford PB, Gosliner W (2004). Counseling Latina mothers of preschool children about weight issues: suggestions for a new framework. J Am Diet Assoc. 104, 387-394.
  • Ritchie LD, Ivey SL (2003). Alarming trends in pediatric overweight in the United States. Social Prev Med. 48, 168-77.
  • Ritchie L, Ganapathy S (2003). Prevention of type 2 diabetes in youth: etiology, promising interventions and recommendations. Pediatr Diabetes. 4, 174-209.
  • Crawford PB, Story M (2001). Ethnic issues in the epidemiology of childhood obesity. Pediatr Clin N Am. 48, 855-78.
  • Ritchie LD, King JC (2000). Dietary calcium and pregnancy-induced hypertension: is there a relation? Am J Clin Nutr. 71, 1371S-4S.
  • Ritchie LD, Fung EB (1998). A longitunidal study of calcium homeostasis during human pregnancy and lactation and after resumption of menses. Am J Clin Nutr. 67, 693-701.
  • Fung EB, Ritchie LD (1998). Zinc absorption during pregnancy and lactation. Infant Nutr Dig. 3, 14-15.
  • Fung EB, Ritchie LD (1997). Zinc absorption in women during pregnancy and lactation: a longitudinal study. Am J Clin Nutr. 66, 80-88.
  • Yoon JS, Fung EB (1996). Urinary lactose is not an index of lactation performance. J Am Diet Assoc. 96, 1179-81.
  • King JC, Kopp LE (1995). Nutrient recommendations for pregnant and lactating women and older individuals. Korean J Nutr. 28, 217-28.
  • Ritchie LD, Calloway DH (1995). Poor diet reflected in height, weight of low-income Hispanics. Calif Ag. 49, 33-5.
  • Receveur O, Ritchie L (1992). Growth of children and socioeconomic status of Mexican-American farmworker families in Tulare County, California: 1969 vs. 1989. Ecol Food Nutr. 28, 65-74.

Non-Peer Reviewed

Return to CalFresh Healthy Living Evaluation | CA Department of Public Health