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 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

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...
NPI’s collaborative research featured in Nutrients special journal issue on School Meals and Children’s Dietary Behaviour

Nutrition Policy Institute's collaborative research was featured in a Nutrients journal special issue, “School Meals and Children's Dietary Behaviour.” The special issue, coordinated by guest editor Pamela Koch from Teachers College Columbia...
NPI researcher Kassandra Bacon to present at the 2024 Child and Adult Care Food Program conference

Nutrition Policy Institute's Kassandra Bacon will present with CACFP Roundtable's Samantha Kay-Daleiden Marshall at the 2024 Annual CACFP Conference at Universal Studios, CA. The conference focuses on the growth of the Child and Adult Care Food Program,...
Recent study reveals increased CACFP reimbursements during COVID-19 boosted meal quality in California family child care homes

The federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, commonly known as CACFP, provides tiered reimbursements to family childcare homes to ensure children in low-income communities have access to healthy meals. To address heightened food insecurity during the...
Arizona survey of food service directors finds the transition away from free school meals posed challenges for students, parents, and administration

A 2023 Arizona survey of food service directors and school nutrition staff identified the effects of the move away from free school meals for all students in the 2022-2023 academic year. While Arizona students no longer were provided free school meals...
NPI welcomes UC Irvine graduate student Christian Black as UC Bonnie Reiss Climate Action Sustainable Agriculture and Food Fellow

Christian Black joined the Nutrition Policy Institute at the University of California in September 2024 as our 2024-2025 UC Bonnie Reiss Climate Action Fellowship, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Fellow. Black is a graduate student pursuing a Master's...
Article in EdSource discusses the “Recess for All” law and the benefits of physical activity at California schools

An article in EdSource by Hannah Thompson of the Nutrition Policy Institute and Rebecca London of the University of California Santa Cruz discussed the impacts of the “Recess for All” law in California schools. The law requires at least 30...
Article in The Daily Californian highlights Berkeley’s unprecedented soda tax, and its potential for indefinite renewal

A 2024 article by Matthew Yoshimoto of The Daily Californian discussed Berkeley's 2014 soda tax, and its presence on the ballot in November 2024. Since its implementation, the soda tax, a 1-cent-per-ounce excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, has had...
Receive free milk for one year and up to $275 by participating in a study on milk consumption for toddlers

With childhood obesity on the rise, research in early life dietary habits are essential to promoting long-term health in children. The current recommendation is for children to drink whole milk from ages 1-2 years, then drink low-fat 1% or non-fat 0%...
NPI’s 10 year anniversary honored by Senator Nancy Skinner and Assembly Member Mia Bonta with California Legislature members resolution

California Senator Nancy Skinner and Assembly Member Mia Bonta honored the Nutrition Policy Institute with a joint California Legislature members resolution to honor our decade of positive impact. As highlighted in the resolution, founded on February 18,...
Hiring survey workers to support study on drinking water in child care centers in San Jose

The Nutrition Policy Institute is seeking to hire data collectors to contribute to a study in childcare centers across San Jose and Gilroy, Calif. The study consists of a multi-level intervention to promote healthy beverage intake through...
Article in The Guardian highlights barriers to potable water access in schools and childcare centers nationwide despite legislation to ensure water availability

A 2024 article by Lela Nargi of The Guardian discussed the issue of potable water in schools and how inconsistent regulation can put children at risk for under-hydration or lead exposure. The article highlighted a 2022 study by NPI's Christina Hecht and...
NPI researcher Lorrene Ritchie presents at 2024 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior conference

Nutrition Policy Institute Director Dr. Lorrene Ritchie presents at the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior, SNEB, 2024 international conference. This year's international conference, themed “Understanding Foodways: Learning, Growing, and...