Nutrition Policy Institute

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Article

Statewide School Meals for All policies are associated with lower prevalence of household food insecurity

July 18, 2025
By Danielle Lee, Dania Orta-Aleman, Wendi Gosliner
A new study showed statewide School Meals for All policies are associated with lower prevalence of household food insecurity, particularly among families with lower incomes. Researchers surveyed 3,377 caregivers of school-aged children from eight states—four with universal school meal policies including…
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Article

Caregivers perceive that the social aspects of school meals encourage meal participation and consumption

July 10, 2025
By Jean Aquino, Danielle Lee, Monica D Zuercher, Wendi Gosliner
A new study exploring caregiver perceptions revealed that caregivers believe that social interaction during school meals is important for their children and may encourage healthy meal consumption. Universal School Meals provide school-aged students with nutritious breakfasts and lunches on all school…
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Article

Recent study shows WIC participation supports improved diet quality and reduced food insecurity through childhood

July 9, 2025
By Brianna Aguayo Villalon, Danielle Lee, Lorrene D Ritchie
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, commonly known as WIC, supports the health of low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and young children by providing access to nutritious foods, nutrition education, and health referrals through state and local agencies…
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Article

NPI is seeking a graduate student Sustainable Agriculture and Food Fellow

July 2, 2025
By Danielle Lee, Julia Nguyen, Kassandra A Bacon, Ron Strochlic
The Nutrition Policy Institute is seeking a University of California graduate student to join our efforts to improve food and nutrition security among currently and formerly incarcerated individuals in California. This fellowship opportunity is part of the 2025-2026 University of California Bonnie Reiss…
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Article

Colorado schools experienced decreased student meal participation and increased unpaid meal debt when universal school meal program ended

June 9, 2025
By Brianna Aguayo Villalon, Danielle Lee, Lorrene D Ritchie, Monica D Zuercher, Wendi Gosliner
In March 2023, Nutrition Policy Institute researchers conducted an online survey to examine Colorado foodservice directors' experiences after federal waivers that allowed all schools to offer school meals free of charge to all students ended in the 2022-23 school year. Survey results highlight how Colorado’s…
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Article

Lorrene Ritchie presents on WIC and school meals research at 2025 International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity conference in Auckland

June 4, 2025
By Danielle Lee
Nutrition Policy Institute director and cooperative extension specialist, Lorrene Ritchie, will be attending and presenting at the seventh annual International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity annual conference in Auckland, New Zealand, June 11-14, 2025. The theme of the conference is …
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Article

NPI Researcher Danielle Lee to present at 2025 Child and Adult Care Food Program National Professional Association Conference

June 3, 2025
By Jean Aquino, Danielle Lee
Nutrition Policy Institute’s Danielle Lee will present with CACFP Roundtable’s Elyse Homel Vitale and Samantha Kay-Daleiden Marshall at the 2025 Child and Adult Care Food Program National Professional Association Conference. The conference, hosted in Henderson, NV from June 10-12, will discuss research…
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Article

New study identifies perceived stigma related to free and reduced-price school meals and opinions on universal free school meals

May 29, 2025
By Jean Aquino, Danielle Lee, Wendi Gosliner, Lorrene D Ritchie
A new study explored parent perceptions of stigma and benefits associated with free and reduced-price school meals and universal free school meals. The United States Department of Agriculture’s school meals programs provide school-aged students with nutritious meals necessary for healthy development and…
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Article

Nutrition Policy Institute presented on healthy school meals for all at the 2025 FRAC National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference

May 27, 2025
By Brianna Aguayo Villalon, Dania Orta-Aleman, Danielle Lee, Lorrene D Ritchie
The National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference aims to strengthen federal nutrition programs, close food access gaps for low-income communities, and develop innovative strategies to end hunger nationwide. Sponsored by the Food Research & Action Center in cooperation with the National CACFP Forum, the…
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Article

NPI welcomes Molly Shea as new project policy analyst

May 12, 2025
By Danielle Lee
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…
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Article

NPI partners with National WIC Association and Pepperdine University to conduct 2025 WIC Multi-State Participant Satisfaction Survey

May 9, 2025
By Danielle Lee, Lorrene D Ritchie
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…
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Article

NPI research brief examines state of School Meals for All

April 16, 2025
By Brianna Aguayo Villalon, Christina E Hecht, Danielle Lee, Lorrene D Ritchie
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…
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Article

Current state of processed and freshly prepared foods in school meals examined in new research brief

April 9, 2025
By Brianna Aguayo Villalon, Danielle Lee, Lorrene D Ritchie, Wendi Gosliner
School meals are an essential source of nutrition for many children in the U.S. Given the widespread use of processed foods in the American diet, the role of these foods in school meals has raised concerns. Although studies consistently find that school meals are a healthier source of nutrition for U.S…
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Article

Nutrition Policy Institute joins Bluesky

April 3, 2025
By Jean Aquino, Brianna Aguayo Villalon, Danielle Lee
Nutrition Policy Institute joined the Bluesky social media platform in March 2025. We look forward to expanding our reach, and will continue sharing our research and policy briefs, upcoming events, and news on nutrition and public health on both Bluesky and our LinkedIn accounts. Follow us on…
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Article

New study reveals that California middle and high school students desire healthy and fresh school meals

March 31, 2025
By Brianna Aguayo Villalon, Danielle Lee, Wendi Gosliner, Kassandra A Bacon
 A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior revealed that students desire healthy and fresh school meals. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government provided waivers to schools to serve meals free of charge to all students (known as universal school meals or…
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Research for healthy food, people and places

The Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI) envisions a world in which healthy food, beverages and opportunities for physical activity are accessible, affordable, equitable and sustainable for everyone.

Nutrition Policy Institute video image

NPI's mission is to conduct and translate policy-relevant research to transform environments for healthy children, families and communities.

Read more about our vision and mission, and learn about our impact.

Watch our video in English and Spanish!

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Please see additional news items on our Nutrition Policy Institute News blog.

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Office Locations

Nutrition Policy Institute

University of California Office of the President
1111 Franklin St.
Oakland, CA 94607
United States

Personnel

Brianna Aguayo Villalon

Student Communications Fellow
STDT 3 ANR

Jean Aquino

SURVEY WORKER

Kassandra A Bacon

Kassandra A. Bacon
Project Policy Analyst III
PROJECT POLICY ANL 3

Ramsha Baig

Ramsha Baig
Research Data Analyst 3
RSCH DATA ANL 3

Sibani Michael Bose

Sibani Michael Bose
Chief Business Officer
ADMIN OFCR 4

Miranda W Brown

Miranda Westfall Brown
Academic Coordinator
ACADEMIC COORD III-FY

Summer J Cortez

Summer J. Cortez
CalFresh Healthy Living Evaluation Unit Manager, NPI
PROJECT POLICY ANL 4

Patricia A Crawford

Patricia A. Crawford
Cooperative Extension Nutrition Specialist - Emeritus
NON-SENATE ACAD EMERITUS(WOS)

Celeste Felix

RSCH DATA ANL 3

KC Fiedler

KC Fiedler
Project Policy Analyst III
PROJECT POLICY ANL 3

Caitlin D French

Assistant Project Scientist
ASST PROJ SCIENTIST-FY

Amy Garfinkel

STDT 4 ANR

Wendi Gosliner

Project scientist
PROJ SCIENTIST-FY NON REP

Christina E Hecht

Christina E. Hecht
UC ANR Nutrition Policy Institute Academic Coordinator
ACADEMIC COORD III-FY NEX

Kenneth Hecht

UC ANR Nutrition Policy Institute Coordinator
PROJECT POLICY ANL 4

Sridharshi C Hewawitharana

Research Data Analyst
RSCH DATA ANL 3

Janice Kao

Academic Coordinator II
PROJECT POLICY ANL 4

Danielle Lee

Danielle Lee
Director of Communications & Research Engagement
PROJECT POLICY ANL 4

Meirong M Liao

Procurement Officer
ADMIN OFCR 2 CX

Amanda M Linares

Amanda M. Linares
Senior Program Evaluator
ACADEMIC COORD II-FY

John E Miller

SURVEY WORKER

Lorenzo Morales-DuBois

SURVEY WORKER

Alan Nguyen

SURVEY WORKER

Julia Nguyen

ADMIN OFCR 2 CX

Dania Orta-Aleman

Assistant Project Scientist
ASST PROJ SCIENTIST-FY

Ana Ortiz Ramos

SURVEY WORKER

Hailey Powell

STDT 4 ANR

Richard Pulvera

Richard Pulvera
Research Data Analyst
RSCH DATA ANL 3

Suzanne M Rauzon

Suzanne M. Rauzon
Director of Community Health, Emeritus
NON-SENATE ACAD EMERITUS(WOS)

Carolyn D Rider

Carolyn Dawn Rider
Senior Program Evaluator
ACADEMIC COORD II-FY

Lorrene D Ritchie

Lorrene D. Ritchie
Director of the Nutrition Policy Institute and Cooperative Extension Nutrition Specialist
NON-SENATE ACAD EMERITUS(WOS)

Samantha Sam-Chen

Samantha Sam-Chen
Project Policy Analyst
PROJECT POLICY ANL 3

Molly Shea

PROJECT POLICY ANL 3

Michael Sheng

Survey Worker
SURVEY WORKER

Neha Sivaraman

SURVEY WORKER

Ron Strochlic

Academic Coordinator
ACADEMIC COORD II-FY NEX

Evan Talmage

PROJECT POLICY ANL 3

Hannah R Thompson

Hannah R. Thompson
Asst Research Professor
PROJ SCIENTIST-FY

Reka Vasicsek

Project Policy Analyst
PROJECT POLICY ANL 3

Nicole Vital

Nicole Vital
SRA 2 NEX
SRA 3

Karen L Webb

NON-SENATE ACAD EMERITUS(WOS)

Ryan Williams

PROJECT POLICY ANL 3

Gail M Woodward-Lopez

RECALL NON-FACULTY ACAD NEX

Monica D Zuercher

Monica Daniela Zuercher
Assistant Project Scientist
ASST PROJ SCIENTIST-FY

Mission Statement

The Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI) conducts research for healthy food, people and places. NPI envisions a world in which healthy food, beverages and opportunities for physical activity are accessible, affordable, equitable and sustainable for everyone. NPI's mission is to conduct and translate policy-relevant research to transform environments for healthy children, families and communities.