Center for Nutrition & Health Impact

Today concludes World Breastfeeding week. Led by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, this observance commemorates the Innocenti Declaration signed in August 1990 by government policymakers, World Health Organization, UNICEF and other organizations to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. However, despite some existing support systems in place to promote breastfeeding, barriers still restrict families, especially in rural and low-income communities, requiring policy, systems, and environmental changes. Researchers conducted three national scoping reviews to better understand how rural environments can support physical activity, healthy eating, and breastfeeding to inform public health data collection and monitoring opportunities. Specific to breastfeeding, one review identified supportive breastfeeding policies in rural areas, such as in healthcare settings, workplaces, schools, food assistance programming, libraries, and local businesses. One review focused on objectively measured environmental features to support breastfeeding in rural communities, such as in hospitals, workplaces, food retail settings, and county fairs. Last, another review explored subjective perceptions of these environments, revealing how rural community members experienced support for breastfeeding in their day-to-day lives. Together, these studies offer guidance for future public health measurement and monitoring strategies tailored to rural contexts. This effort was led by Dr. M. Renée Umstattd Meyer with support from Dr. Bailey Houghtaling, Dr. Marilyn Wende, Dr. Kathy Krey, PhD, and others. Read the full studies in BMC Public Health and the Journal of Healthy Eating and Active Living: #1: Policies to encourage breastfeeding, healthy eating, and physical activity among rural people and places in the United States - https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gtxkitsB #2: Objectively-measured environmental support for physical activity, healthy eating, and breastfeeding in the rural United States - https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gUwHNAS7 #3: Subjectively-measured environmental support for physical activity, healthy eating, and breastfeeding in the rural United States - https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gYp5tm94 #PublicHealth #Breastfeeding #Nutrition

Stay tuned for our upcoming September newsletter! This fall, in honor of National Fruits and Vegetables Month, we will be spotlighting the importance of access to produce for health, discussing how built environments shape community well-being, and leveraging partner perspectives on how we can make fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible on a broad scale. We will also highlight our latest publications and staff travel across the U.S. With so many updates since our Spring issue, you don't want to miss out! Subscribe for free at the link: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gsEhdAVB #PublicHealth #BuiltEnvironments #NutritionAccess

Should public policy focus on promoting whole foods—or on reducing ultra-processed foods (UPFs)? That was the central question at the ISBNPA 2025 debate, “Pringles vs. Peaches,” where CNHI’s Principal Research Scientist Dr. Carmen Byker Shanks and Associate Chair of Academics at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Department of Nutrition, Dr. Lindsey Smith Taillie, PhD, tackled two pressing and competing public health strategies. The debate was moderated by Dr. Amy Lazarus Yaroch, Executive Director at CNHI. Dr. Byker Shanks argued in favor of "peaches;" policies that elevate access to, and promotion of, whole foods. Whole foods are considered minimally processed, nutrient-dense, and essential to long-term health. Think fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Programs like #GusNIP are a prime example of policies that promote whole foods through fruits and vegetables. Nutrition Incentive Hub Dr. Smith Taillie represented the "pringles" perspective—focusing on reducing population-level intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), defined by the NOVA classification as industrial formulations with little or no whole food content, and often packed with additives, emulsifiers, and added sugars and sodium. Think sugary drinks, chicken nuggets, cookies, ice cream, and potato chips. Taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages are one example policy to reduce UPFs. The debate covered several topics, including: 🍅 How UPFs and whole foods impact health outcomes differently. 🥫 Real-world policies around the globe—including front-of-package warning labels and subsidies for produce. 🍑 The unique opportunities and tradeoffs in various food environments, especially for vulnerable populations. 🌎 The role of public policy in rapidly changing contexts. Dr. Byker Shanks shared her reflections post-debate: “The audience seemed highly engaged throughout, and the discussion sparked a lot of thoughtful contributions. There appeared to be a general consensus by the end that what’s needed is a dual approach... one that supports and promotes whole foods, while also implementing effective regulation of ultra-processed foods." Both approaches matter, but what deserves priority? Making whole foods more accessible and appealing, or reducing the prevalence of UPFs in our food systems? Drop your thoughts below and re-share with your network! #ISBNPA2025 #Nutrition #FoodSystems #WholeFoods #UltraProcessedFoods #PublicHealth #Debate

How do produce prescriptions impact health? A new publication from the NTAE examined 16 studies of GusNIP-funded programs and finds early evidence of improved outcomes—including BMI, ER visits and overall reductions in healthcare utilization. While research is still emerging, there is clear potential for healthcare-driven nutrition support. Nutrition Incentive Hub. Find out more in Annual Review of Nutrition, link below: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gh2hPTAn Authors include: Dr. Carmen Byker Shanks, Michelle S. Park, Dr. Amy Lazarus Yaroch, Dr. Eliza Short, PhD, RDN and Dr. Hilary K. Seligman. This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. #NIFAimpacts #ProducePrescriptions #GusNIP #FoodIsMedicine #PublicHealth

How can campus food pantries be more accessible to international students? New findings from a qualitative study at a large public university in the Southeastern U.S. point to overcoming key barriers like a lack of culturally relevant foods, limited awareness, and stigma, while also highlighting opportunities for improving the campus food pantry environment. Read the full study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gDJh9V-m Authors include: Dr. Nila Pradhananga, PhD, Dr. Kritee Niroula, PhD, Dr. Jean Pierre Enriquez, Dr. Erin McKinley, PhD, RD, LDN, CLC, MCHES, FAND and Dr. Bailey Houghtaling. #FoodInsecurity #HigherEd #PublicHealth #NutritionAccess

July is National Blueberry Month! Today, we are celebrating this small but mighty fruit that’s in peak season right now. 🫐 Nutritionally, blueberries are a great choice because they are rich in antioxidants—especially anthocyanins—and have even been linked to improved cardiovascular health*, making them a delicious way to support long-term wellness. July is the perfect time to pick up a fresh pint at your local farmer’s market. Not sure where to find one near you? The @Nutrition Incentive Hub has a map to help you locate farm direct #GusNIP sites across the country so that you can enjoy and support local produce: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gZVXsX_r We hope you enjoy this #BlueberryMonth! *Kalt W, Cassidy A, Howard LR, Krikorian R, Stull AJ, Tremblay F, Zamora-Ros R. Recent Research on the Health Benefits of Blueberries and Their Anthocyanins. Adv Nutr. 2020 Mar 1;11(2):224-236. doi: 10.1093/advances/nmz065. PMID: 31329250; PMCID: PMC7442370. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gpkVCrzx

We are proud to serve as the evaluation partner for one of the nation’s largest community-based Food is Medicine initiatives. 🍊 A new report with Feeding America and Elevance Health highlights how access to nourishing food and wellness tools can support better health for people facing food insecurity. Read the Year 2 Findings, linked below!

From produce prescriptions to medically tailored meals, our Food is Medicine (FIM) work brings healthy food into the healthcare system. At the Center, we're advancing rigorous evaluation, equity-driven strategies, and community voices to improve food and health outcomes for those that need it most. 🥑 Curious about our projects and partnerships in the sector? Click the link below to explore our past and current work, including large-scale evaluation partnerships with national organizations such as the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) (Nutrition Incentive Hub), American Heart Association, and Feeding America. Link below! #FoodIsMedicine #PublicHealth #NutritionSecurity https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/g8AJ3Sax

The Nutrition Incentive Hub is cooking up some fantastic resources for grantees implementing #ProducePrescription programs. 🥬 See below!

Built environment approaches make it safer and easier for people across the life span to walk, bicycle, or wheelchair roll, and mitigate barriers to physical activity by making the healthy choice the default choice. 🚶🚴👩🦽 We conducted a qualitative study with Special Olympics athletes nationwide to understand how built environment changes—like sidewalks and crosswalks—can be more accessible. Insights from this study helped update a toolkit for making communities more accessible. Explore our toolkit to see how to asses community needs, select, implement, and evaluate built environment approaches. Full toolkit attached in the post, also linked on our website below—check it out! https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/g_Bvc2Ei #BuiltEnvironment #PublicHealth #PhysicalActivity