Healthy Eating Research

04/14/2026

In light of efforts to decrease added sugar, the use of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) in the food supply is increasing.

A new study finds that despite having mixed perceptions about the safety and healthfulness of NSS for children, parents perceived NSS front-of-package labels as helpful for making informed beverage choices for their children.

Read more:

Building Evidence to Prevent Childhood Obesity | Perceptions of Nonsugar Sweeteners and Nonsugar Sweetener Front-of-Package Labels Among Parents in the United States: A Qualitative Study

04/07/2026

HER-supported research in the American Journal of Public Health explores how expanded WIC and SNAP benefits helped families.

Interviews with 25 parents enrolled in both WIC and SNAP found that increased benefits and reduced administrative barriers made a meaningful difference:
• Benefit increases helped families avoid running out of food at the end of the month
• Families often prioritized SNAP when WIC redemption barriers arose
• Administrative simplifications made it easier to stay enrolled
• Overall, increased flexibility helped families make better use of both programs

Read the full paper:

Building Evidence to Prevent Childhood Obesity | “I Didn't Have to Struggle”: Caregivers’ Perspectives on the Synergistic Interplay of WIC and SNAP on Family Health

04/01/2026

📢 New Research Agenda Released

As nutrition policies, programs, and the food environment continue to evolve, the need for timely, actionable evidence has never been greater. To help meet this moment, HER has released the 2026–2027 Rapid Response Research Agenda—a blueprint for immediate (12–18 month) research priorities to inform strategies that improve access to healthy foods, diet quality, and healthy weights among children and families.

The agenda highlights priority policy issues across life stages and federal nutrition programs and outlines research needs aligned with three cross‑cutting themes. Developed with input from leading researchers, advocates, and funders, it reflects collective expertise to guide impactful, policy‑relevant research.

👉 Read the 2026–2027 Rapid Response Research Agenda:
https://buff.ly/JngiaBu

03/27/2026

📘 A new report from Healthy Eating Research offers a broad look at how food companies are reacting to the MAHA initiative. It summarizes MAHA’s food‑system priorities, state policy actions, and industry announcements across manufacturers, retailers, and restaurants. The report finds that “relatively few companies have made public announcements,” and most early changes involve removing synthetic dyes — not the nutrients most tied to diet quality.

Read the full report here:https://healthyeatingresearch.org/2026/03/food-industry-responses-to-the-make-america-healthy-again-initiative/

03/26/2026

🚨New HER‑funded research published in The Lancet Public Health tested the FDA’s proposed front‑of‑package label against several alternatives.
Results from a national randomized trial show that “High‑In” ront‑of‑package labels help shoppers:

Spot unhealthy products more accurately

Choose healthier options more consistently

And they outperformed the FDA’s proposed %DV Nutrition‑Info label across the board.

This is powerful evidence that clear, interpretive labels can drive healthier choices at the shelf.

🔍 Read the full study: https://buff.ly/pZ5kd0l

03/16/2026

Healthy Eating Research (HER) is proud to share a new HER-funded publication in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior examining the Water is K’é pilot, a culturally grounded intervention designed to support healthier beverage habits among Navajo preschool children. The study found promising improvements in water intake and caregiver knowledge, demonstrating the power of community-led, culturally rooted approaches to child health. Read the full article: https://healthyeatingresearch.org/research/water-is-ke-pilot-results-of-a-community-based-intervention-to-increase-healthy-beverage-consumption-by-navajo-preschool-children/

03/12/2026

During the pandemic, USDA waivers made it easier for families to get summer meals—allowing non-congregate pickup, flexible locations, and simpler rules. A new HER-funded review shows these changes helped more kids access the food they needed and reduced barriers for families and program staff. As we look ahead, these findings show how important flexibility is for keeping children fed.
Learn more: https://healthyeatingresearch.org/research/associations-between-the-u-s-department-of-agriculture-covid-19-pandemic-waivers-and-summer-meal-programs-access-and-participation-a-systematic-review/

03/04/2026

How often would front‑of‑package nutrition labels actually appear on the foods we buy? 🛒
A new study from Healthy Eating Research looks at two proposed labeling systems and estimates their prevalence across a major supermarket chain. The findings reveal important differences in what shoppers would see—and how labeling policies could shape healthier, more informed choices.
Learn more: https://buff.ly/ZP9Tx5X

02/18/2026

🚫🥣 Why are fewer family child care home providers joining CACFP?
New HER‑funded research from California points to a major culprit: tiered meal reimbursements that leave many providers underpaid.
Fair, equitable reimbursements = providers can stay in the program and kids get the healthy meals they deserve. 💙🍽️
Learn more: https://healthyeatingresearch.org/research/trends-in-california-child-and-adult-care-food-program-participation-among-family-child-care-home-providers-the-role-of-tiered-meal-reimbursements/

02/13/2026

Fresh, local food in schools does more than fill lunch trays—it helps kids thrive and strengthens entire communities. 🌱🍎✨

A new study funded by Healthy Eating Research takes a deep look at how farm‑to‑school programs impact student health, school food environments, and local food systems. The evidence is clear: when schools buy local, everyone benefits.

Curious what this means for kids, families, and farmers?

Read the full review: https://healthyeatingresearch.org/research/multi-level-health-outcomes-of-local-food-procurement-in-united-states-farm-to-school-programs-a-systematic-review/

02/10/2026

For 20 years, Healthy Eating Research has helped reshape the nation’s approach to child nutrition—and the response to our Impact Report has been incredible.

As we turn the page, we’re diving even deeper into the work ahead:
• Advancing equity‑centered nutrition research
• Strengthening policies that support every child’s health
• Expanding collaboration across communities, researchers, and advocates

The past two decades laid the foundation. The next two will define what’s possible. Join us as we continue building a healthier future for all children.

Explore what’s next on our website.

02/03/2026

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