Food Shopping And Budgeting

Pilot study suggests text messages to SNAP shoppers may improve awareness of farmers’ markets

December 16, 2025
By Danielle Lee, Sridharshi C Hewawitharana, Ron Strochlic, Samantha Sam-Chen, Wendi Gosliner
The California Nutrition Incentive Program, or CNIP, matches Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—or SNAP and also known as CalFresh in California—dollars spent on fruits and vegetables at certified farmers’ markets and other retail locations. This program is known in many places as Market Match…
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Nutrition Policy Institute: Collection

Reports

Nutrition Policy Institute's research and evaluation reports include documents that presents the findings of a systematic investigation in a clear, organized, and objective manner. The reports detail the research process, methods, data, and results to communicate complex information and insights to a…
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Nutrition Policy Institute: Article

November 2025 SNAP Benefit Disruption: Findings from a Rapid-Response Observational Study of Charitable Food Programs in California

December 11, 2025
By Wendi Gosliner, Caitlin D French, Danielle Lee, Samantha Sam-Chen, Ron Strochlic, Miranda W Brown, Monica D Zuercher, Karina Diaz Rios, Alexa Erickson, Amira R Resnick, Molly Shea, Lorrene D Ritchie, Reka Vasicsek, Hannah R Thompson
Report • December 2025 • Download PDF (1.2 MB)Background During a U.S. government shutdown in October-November of 2025, the federal government failed to fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on time for the first time in the program’s history. As a result, more than 40 million…
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Nutrition Policy Institute: Collection

Research Briefs

Nutrition Policy Institute's research briefs are short, non-technical summaries of a study's key findings—designed to make complex research accessible to broader audiences like policymakers, practitioners, or the public—translating evidence into real-world application through plain language, bullet points,…
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Nutrition Policy Institute: Article

California Nutrition Incentive Program Text Message (SMS) Pilot Shopper Evaluation

September 30, 2025
By Samantha Sam-Chen, Sridharshi C Hewawitharana, Ron Strochlic, Wendi Gosliner
Report • September 2025 • Download PDF (815 KB)Table of ContentsBackgroundStudy ObjectivesStudy Design and MethodsStudy sampleData collectionIntervention and Control Group Text Messages (SMS)AnalysisFindingsStudy participantsBehavioral changes among survey respondentsPerceptions of the text messages…
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New WIC study finds social support encourages program participation

September 10, 2025
By Jean Aquino, Danielle Lee, KC Fiedler, Lorrene D Ritchie
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, commonly known as WIC, provides nutritious food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and health care referrals to pregnant and postpartum women and families with young children with low income. WIC participation improves…
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University of California experts support front-of-package nutrition labels

July 28, 2025
By Danielle Lee, Christina E Hecht, Wendi Gosliner
To support healthier consumer choices, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed mandatory front-of-package labels on packaged foods and beverages highlighting levels of nutrients to limit—saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars. The University of California Research Consortium on Beverages and…
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UC Master Food Preservers of Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: Freezing Eggs (EDC MFP)

June 12, 2025
By Robin E Martin
 Preserve It! Freezing eggs is a viable and safe option  by UCCE Master Food Preserver of El Dorado County Laurie Lewis  Eggs:  Such a perfect source of nutrition, a complete protein in a small oval shell. If you have fresh eggs from your own chickens or a local source, that’s wonderful…
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