Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior

New research discussed by lead author Julie M. Wood, MHumNut, Graduate Researcher, Deakin University’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (Australia), found that refugees resettling in Australia face high rates of food insecurity, but most informational materials designed to support them are written at reading levels far too advanced for effective use to address their needs and many fail to consider cultural and linguistic diversity.

Juliana F.W. Cohen, ScD, RD, Director of the Center for Health Innovation, Research, and Policy at Merrimack College, and Adjunct Professor of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, presents the results of a new study of nearly 1,000 school food authorities on the discontinuation of universal free school meal policies. Researchers found significant increases in school meal debt and student stigma and declines in participation.

Cassandra J. Nguyen, PhD, Nutrition Department, University of California Davis, discusses how she and co-investigators worked with the Navajo Nation to develop a culturally-informed food insecurity screener using familiar images and traditional foods to improve patient comfort and screening accuracy. This alternative screener reduces stigma, improves patient comfort, and reflects local food traditions and community food access better.

Sarah Misyak, PhD, MPH, Virginia Tech, discusses a recent study that outlines a set of core competencies designed to support professionals implementing policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change initiatives in SNAP-Ed. Developed through a participatory process with experienced practitioners, the framework addresses the unique demands of systems-level public health work. The authors suggest that integrating these competencies into SNAP-Ed and other community nutrition workforce development strategies will help reduce employee burnout, clarify expectations, and ultimately enhance program impact.

Lead investigator Marissa Burgermaster, PhD, shares the results of a new pilot study that evaluated the feasibility of Nutri, a user-centered digital platform designed to support personalized, evidence-based diet goal setting during routine primary care visits for patients with type 2 diabetes. Findings show that primary care providers in FQHCs who used the system consistently found it usable and satisfactory, and that patients were able to engage with the intervention effectively. Eighty-one percent of patients reported they set a diet goal with their provider and over half initiated that goal within one week.

Lead author Annika Vahk, PhD, showcases the results of a father-focused nutrition and physical activity program that significantly improved long-term healthy dietary behaviors among Mexican-heritage fathers living in rural US communities. This 6-week program called ¡Haz Espacio para Papi! (Make Room for Daddy!) led to sustained increases in fruit and vegetable intake and healthy behaviors up to 2.5 years after completion. Findings point to the importance of culturally relevant, family-centered interventions, particularly those that prioritize familism and build skills together as a unit.

Lead investigator Harriet Okronipa, PhD, discusses a new study that explores the nutrition perspectives and attitudes of Ghanaian pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers. It sheds light on significant challenges, including food insecurity, economic constraints, and cultural influences, that impact the dietary habits and health of young mothers and their infants. Offering insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, it focuses on maternal and child health and nutrition education, especially within socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.

Investigators Caitlyn B. Faul, MPH, RD, LDN, Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, PhD, and Eric E. Calloway, PhD, RD, highlight critical constructs essential for addressing dietary inequalities and promoting overall health. They note key environmental and psychosocial factors critical to improving diet quality. These factors include access to healthy foods, social dynamics, and coping mechanisms that influence nutritional choices. Understanding these interconnected elements can guide the development of more effective public health interventions and policy decisions.

Interview: Co-lead authors Tara L. Maudrie, PhD, MSPH, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Indigenous Health, and Cassandra J. Nguyen, PhD, University of California Davis, discuss findings from the Go Healthy Indigenous-supported agriculture randomized control trial. The study emphasizes the importance of involving local Osage Nation voices to develop sustainable health solutions rooted in community worldviews and values. This initiative aims to strengthen food sovereignty while promoting well-being.

Interview: Lead investigator Elisabeth Fornaro, PhD, The School District of Philadelphia, highlights new research that reveals significant barriers to sustaining policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes in schools through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed)-funded partnerships. The study emphasizes that while SNAP-Ed aims for schools to independently sustain PSE changes, the current approach often poses challenges for under-resourced schools.