Nutrition & Health

School meals provide a significant portion of children’s daily nutrition, and policies like the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, Community Eligibility Provision, and Healthy School Meals for All have improved access to healthier meals. However, variations in lunch period lengths and seated time may affect meal…

The Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research and Evaluation Network, or NOPREN, informs policies and practices designed to support the intake of healthy, nutritious foods so that everyone has a fair chance at health. It is a collaborative network of policy researchers and evaluators, practitioners, people…

A new study reports that an astounding 75% of U.S. women of reproductive age do not meet activity guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Researchers analyzed the most recent data from the National Health Interview Survey, following nearly 11,000 female respondents aged 18 to…

A new report from the Nutrition Policy Institute documents the impacts of the unprecedented November 2025 CalFresh benefit disruption during the federal government shutdown based on field observations at California charitable food distribution sites. For the first time in the history of the Supplemental…

Brrr .. it’s cold outside!  Coming up on In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners, we revisit an important show from 2015 about winter tasks in the garden. Proper pruning, pre-treatment for potential pests and disease, and what certain fruit require for “chill hours”.  Learn what “chill hours” really…

The Nutrition Policy Institute is pleased to share the 2025 CalFresh Healthy Living data briefs, highlighting the vital contributions of local health departments and their community partners to California’s nutrition and physical activity promotion efforts during federal fiscal year 2025. The California…

Preserve It! Chicken Wing Season! The Super Bowl always means there is a grand feast of snack foods to plan and prepare. While the textures and flavors abound at this annual gathering (whether you watch the game or not), it seems a quintessential ingredient on the menu is the spicy-vinegary buffalo…

Preserve It! For a Lofty Dessert!  Seckel pears are crisp, juicy, and quite sweet with a slightly spicy flavor profile when ripe. They are very small in size (about one-inch diameter and three-inches in height – about the size of a small lemon), making them perfect for canning beautiful halves of…

Universal school meal policies allow all students to eat school meals at no cost, regardless of income, and have the potential to improve child nutrition and reduce stigma. However, there is limited evidence of the relationship between such policies and stigma. A new study published in the Journal…