Food Access & Food Insecurity

Molly Shea joined the Nutrition Policy Institute at the University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources on May 8, 2025 as a project policy analyst. She began her work at NPI in October 2024 as a survey worker supporting various projects. Prior to her work with NPI, Molly worked in program…

Nutrition Policy Institute researchers will work with the National WIC Association and Pepperdine University to conduct a 2025 Multi-State Satisfaction Survey of participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, or WIC. Survey results will build upon prior surveys…

A recent Nutrition Policy Institute research brief examines key findings from the implementation and impact of California’s School Meals for All program, which provides free meals to all public school students regardless of family income. The program has increased meal participation, reduced…

Nutrition Policy Institute’s Danielle Lee will present with University of California, Berkeley’s Jessica Rangel and Pepperdine University’s Rebeca Oropeza at the 2025 National WIC Association’s Education and Training Conference. The conference will reflect on past successes and discuss policy…

A new research brief from the Nutrition Policy Institute highlights the role of federal and state programs in promoting healthy and equitable food retail environments. The study, “Availability and Quality of Healthy Foods Vary by Store Participation in SNAP and WIC in Low-Income California Neighborhoods,”…

In addition to delivering nutrition lessons for the 113 preschoolers at eight Head Start sites across Calaveras County, the CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE team incorporates physical education activities, as well as useful newsletters and virtual meetings for family members.

A new Nutrition Policy Institute research brief summarizes findings from a 2023 study—currently a candidate for Nutrients' Best Paper of 2023—titled “Associations between Changes in Food Acquisition Behaviors, Dietary Intake, and Body Weight during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Low-Income Parents in California…

A new research brief from the Nutrition Policy Institute highlights the role of federal and state programs in promoting healthy and equitable food retail environments. The study, “Availability and Quality of Healthy Foods Vary by Store Participation in SNAP and WIC in Low-Income California Neighborhoods,”…

Research Brief • March 2025 • Download PDF (202 KB)BackgroundIn March 2023, an online survey gathered insights from Colorado foodservice directors (FSDs) about their experiences implementing school meals during the 2022-23 school year (SY) after the federal waivers allowing school meals to be served…