Center for Nutrition & Health Impact

03/13/2026

Calling mid-career researchers! 📣

The International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity is now accepting applications for the Building Future Leaders Program: an online leadership development opportunity designed for researchers ready to strengthen their leadership skills and expand their global network.

The program runs May–November 2026 and includes interactive workshops, mentoring, and coaching led by Hugh Kearns of iThinkWell.

Applications close Friday, March 20, 2026!

Interested? Click the link below to apply: https://researchsurveys.deakin.edu.au/jfe/form/SV_3aCLKHkqTaAqBF4?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_lcssjirped

03/11/2026

Happy Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) Day!

Every second Wednesday of March, RDN Day is observed by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to raise awareness and appreciation for the expertise and impact of RDNs in advancing public health and wellbeing.

Today, we’re recognizing CNHI's Senior Research Associate Daniele Vest and Research Scientist Dr. Eliza Short.

When asked about why she chose to pursue her RDN, Daniele said:
"I’ve always known I wanted to be in the health field but wasn’t sure where I best fit until learning about dietetics for a school assignment. I hadn’t been exposed to much information about nutrition prior to then and coupled with my own interest in eating better to feel better, I was drawn to the field. As I learned more about health disparities and systemic injustices, I realized how interconnected diet is with culture, policy, environment, socioeconomic status, and more. Leaning into public health and becoming a dietitian allowed me to get the best of both worlds through broad knowledge of the systems at play and specific expertise in nutrition and emphasized the importance of translating health information into usable education. This aligns with my belief that access to quality food is a basic human right and everyone deserves to be fueled by food that supports their overall health."

Eliza responded to the same question. She stated:
I grew up surrounded by nutrition—my mom is an RDN, and in middle school I found myself drawn to the nutrition newsletters she’d spend time reading. Reading them myself sparked an early curiosity about food in all its dimensions: how we prepare it, how we enjoy it, and the complex ways it shapes our health. Later, working as an RDN myself, I met many patients facing real challenges accessing nutritious foods. Seeing how structural and social factors influenced their well‑being pushed me to think beyond individual counseling. That experience ultimately inspired me to return to school and pursue public health nutrition research, where I could explore solutions on a broader, more systemic level.”

For the fun of it, we also asked both RDNs about their favorite produce.

Daniele said:
"My favorite fruit is pineapple and my favorite veggie is broccoli. These are two things I always asked for as a kid and now I can appreciate the many ways they can each be prepared and incorporated into yummy food and drinks."

Eliza said:
"I’d say grapefruit is my favorite fruit—a mix of sweet and tart citrus all in one."

Many thanks to Daniele, Eliza, and other RDNs, for their constant commitment to public health and nutrition!

03/10/2026

Big things are ahead for the Center for Nutrition & Health Impact.

Our Spring 2026 Newsletter will share leadership reflections, new voices helping to guide our work, national impact through our strategic partnerships, and a closer look at one of our newest evaluation projects.

See how we’re building momentum for innovation and impact in public health nutrition. Coming soon!

03/04/2026

Know this plate? 🍽️

On Day, we’re highlighting an ongoing project led by Dr. Carmen Byker Shanks to validate the ADA Diabetes Plate: a simple nutrition tool designed to help people balance their meals and manage diabetes.

Dr. Byker Shanks, joined by Dr. Sarah Stotz and ADA Nutrition and Wellness team partners, is leading a comprehensive evaluation to validate this widely used approach and strengthen the evidence behind it— because dietary choices play a critical role in diabetes prevention and management.

Make sure you don't miss the full project feature going live in our Spring Newsletter. Subscribe for more! https://www.centerfornutrition.org/newsletter?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_drgvvtf7lc

03/02/2026

We can say with confidence that March is one of our favorite months out of the year because we get to celebrate National Nutrition Month®!

Sponsored annually by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, this nutrition education and information campaign seeks to inform the public on how their diet and physical activity habits shape overall health.

This year's theme is "Discover the Power of Nutrition;" which we can fully get behind because we know one of the most powerful things you can do for your health and wellbeing is to eat a nutritious diet. Join us in celebrating with the message of the week: "Power Your Day with Nutrition." Try starting your days this week with a healthy breakfast or lunch that includes a variety of food groups.

Interested in following along this month? See more at the link! https://www.eatright.org/national-nutrition-month?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_y2o6kavpe8

02/23/2026

📣 ICYMI: CNHI Director of Scientific Strategy Dr. Carmen Byker Shanks was featured in The Guardian last month and shared her own perspective and considerations around the recently released U.S. Dietary Guidelines. Want to read more? Check it out at the link below!

It will take years for changes to take effect, but children who eat school meals and seniors served by Meals on Wheels will feel the DGA ripple effects

02/16/2026

We are so excited to continue our impact throughout 2026.

In late 2025, we updated our project webpage which details our ongoing projects and partnerships with organizations and universities working to better understand interventions and opportunities for the public health nutrition landscape.

A recent project highlight includes our transformative evaluation work with the Nutrition Incentive Hub and the recently released GusNIP Year 5 Nutrition Incentive Program Impact Findings report which improves access and affordability of fruits and vegetables across the U.S. Check out all that and more at the link below:

CNHI's Food is Medicine Projects:

CNHI evaluates Food is Medicine programs, including produce prescriptions and medically tailored meals, to improve public health outcomes and nutrition security research.

02/13/2026

🌸 Did you know? February is the national month of cherries! 🍒

There are tons of ways to eat cherries, but we think they are delicious enough to enjoy all by themselves. Another added bonus? They are a heart healthy fruit!

Check out the below article for more information on the health benefits of cherries from their nutritional breakdown to improvements in arthritis and sleep quality.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cherries-benefits?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_wnec0hsnnv

01/28/2026

We’re a Technology Solutions Manager to join our team!

This role will support CNHI’s evaluation and research efforts by leading the design and management of secure digital platforms, data dashboards, and technology systems that enable partners and grantees to collect, analyze, and use data to strengthen food access programs nationwide.

Click the link to learn more and apply!
https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=cd6c50b9-502d-48d6-a5f5-f92a0723ff1f&ccId=19000101_000001&jobId=570092&lang=en_US&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_pox3d4ff6u

01/26/2026

Protein is one of the most requested food types at food pantries. Yet, providing these options remains a challenge for food banks and pantries across the U.S.

HATCH for Hunger is working to close that gap by sourcing affordable, nutritious proteins like fresh chicken and eggs for food banks and pantries so that families can access the protein they want and need.

In a new partnership, CNHI will collaborate with HATCH to evaluate how this work supports food banks and improves access to high-quality protein for families experiencing food insecurity. Read the full feature below, also available in our 2025 End-of-Year publication. Be sure to stay tuned for more!

Families who visit food pantries consistently report a desire for fresh and healthy proteins. Due to the high cost of these foods, food banks and pantries face ongoing challenges in meeting families’ needs with existing procurement strategies.

01/23/2026

📣 REMINDER! See a survey opportunity below that will help researchers understand how food security is being measured across the U.S.

An interdisciplinary team of public health and nutrition researchers affiliated with the Healthy Eating Research (HER) Strategic Research Collaborative is working to understand how food security is being measured at the state and local levels across the country. We are hoping to learn about any existing data collection or survey efforts in your state.

If you know of any statewide initiatives—past or present—please take a moment to complete this short survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdfIzBYsUWOFF8l5o-1sMk-IkWEZE1BYsrdLYA8-YcmNRoZ_A/viewform?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_wh2ayc68cn

We encourage you to share this message with colleagues and collaborators! Your input will help build a clearer picture of how food security is measured nationwide and where important gaps remain.

Please direct any comments and questions to Dr. Kaitlyn Harper (kharpe14@jhu.edu).

01/21/2026

Most Americans do not meet physical activity guidelines. In a new publication, scientists introduced Physical Activity Research Opportunities (PARO), a conceptual framework to advance physical activity research in a cohesive and efficient manner.

The PARO framework synthesizes and organizes research opportunities to help strategically advance physical activity research. Drawing from national reports and expert input, the framework highlights gaps in current evidence and identifies opportunities across translational research phases and social ecological levels.

Read the full study here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12659305/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_8g3jggp4q1

Authors include: E. Balis, Daniel P. Hatfield, Meher Din, Sueny Paloma Lima-dos-Santos, Stott, Amanda Sharfman, and David R. Brown.