Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Food security and nutrition
WIC Participant and Local Agency Staff Perspectives on Increased Cash-Value Benefits for Fruits and Vegetables Within an American Indian Tribal Organization
Explores the perceived impacts of increased cash-value benefits for fruits and vegetables through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in tribal communities associated with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona. Bases findings on a survey of participants and staff on their perceptions about the increase and its effect on their ability to access a more nutritious diet.
Author(s): Emily M Melnick, Francesco Acciai, Nicole Vaudrin O'Reilly, et al.
Citation: Maternal & Child Nutrition, 22(1), e70148
Date: 03/2026
view details
Explores the perceived impacts of increased cash-value benefits for fruits and vegetables through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in tribal communities associated with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona. Bases findings on a survey of participants and staff on their perceptions about the increase and its effect on their ability to access a more nutritious diet.
Author(s): Emily M Melnick, Francesco Acciai, Nicole Vaudrin O'Reilly, et al.
Citation: Maternal & Child Nutrition, 22(1), e70148
Date: 03/2026
view details
Relationships Between Diabetes, Vitamin D Status, Depression, and Hispanic Ethnicity: A Project FRONTIER Study
Examines associations between vitamin D status, diabetes, depression, and Hispanic ethnicity within a population of 299 adults in rural West Texas. Discusses how factors including nutrition and ethnicity influence chronic disease outcomes and healthcare delivery in aging rural populations.
Author(s): Riley McCready, Claudia Morris, Philip Antwi-Adjei, et al.
Citation: Nutrition & Diabetes, 16, 1
Date: 01/2026
view details
Examines associations between vitamin D status, diabetes, depression, and Hispanic ethnicity within a population of 299 adults in rural West Texas. Discusses how factors including nutrition and ethnicity influence chronic disease outcomes and healthcare delivery in aging rural populations.
Author(s): Riley McCready, Claudia Morris, Philip Antwi-Adjei, et al.
Citation: Nutrition & Diabetes, 16, 1
Date: 01/2026
view details
Universal School Meal Policies and Perceived Stigma: Quantitative Evidence From Eight US States
Examines relationships among universal school meals (USMs) policies, stigma surrounding USM, and perceptions of school lunch. Utilizes survey data from 1,066 middle and high school students regarding their feelings of embarrassment surrounding school lunch, with breakdowns according to participant sociodemographics and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Dania Orta-Aleman, Monica D. Zuercher, Leah E. Chapman, et al.
Citation: Journal of School Health, 96(1), e70098
Date: 01/2026
view details
Examines relationships among universal school meals (USMs) policies, stigma surrounding USM, and perceptions of school lunch. Utilizes survey data from 1,066 middle and high school students regarding their feelings of embarrassment surrounding school lunch, with breakdowns according to participant sociodemographics and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Dania Orta-Aleman, Monica D. Zuercher, Leah E. Chapman, et al.
Citation: Journal of School Health, 96(1), e70098
Date: 01/2026
view details
Impact of Food Accessibility on Eating and Anthropometric Outcomes among Rural Parent-Child Dyads: A Secondary Data Analysis of a Mindful Eating Intervention
Examines the relationship among food insecurity, food behaviors, and health outcomes in rural children and parents enrolled in a mindful eating intervention trial. Utilizes data from 154 parent-child dyads recruited from Head Start childcare centers in the U.S. and includes breakdowns according to sociodemographics, food accessibility, eating habits, health status, and more.
Author(s): Jiying Ling, Tsui-Sui Annie Kao, Xining Yang
Citation: BMJ Open, 15(12), e108076
Date: 12/2025
view details
Examines the relationship among food insecurity, food behaviors, and health outcomes in rural children and parents enrolled in a mindful eating intervention trial. Utilizes data from 154 parent-child dyads recruited from Head Start childcare centers in the U.S. and includes breakdowns according to sociodemographics, food accessibility, eating habits, health status, and more.
Author(s): Jiying Ling, Tsui-Sui Annie Kao, Xining Yang
Citation: BMJ Open, 15(12), e108076
Date: 12/2025
view details
Household Food Security in the United States in 2024
Reports on household food security, food expenditures, and use of federal food and nutrition assistance programs in 2024. Includes food insecurity statistics for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Additional links: Statistical Supplement, Summary
Author(s): Matthew P. Rabbitt, Madeline Reed-Jones, Laura J. Hales, Shellye Suttles, Michael P. Burke
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
Reports on household food security, food expenditures, and use of federal food and nutrition assistance programs in 2024. Includes food insecurity statistics for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Additional links: Statistical Supplement, Summary
Author(s): Matthew P. Rabbitt, Madeline Reed-Jones, Laura J. Hales, Shellye Suttles, Michael P. Burke
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
Awakening the Seeds In Native Youth: Native Farm to School Evaluation Report
Discusses the Native Farm to School project, a food systems initiative that supports tribal communities in integrating sustainable cultural practices, land stewardship, and traditional foods into their local Indigenous food systems. Provides details on a 2023-2025 USDA-FNS and Newman's Own Foundation grant that enabled 16 tribal communities across the U.S. to revitalize their food systems through school programming and community partnerships.
Author(s): Leah Simeon, Richard Elm-Hill, Cetan Christensen, et al.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: First Nations Development Institute
view details
Discusses the Native Farm to School project, a food systems initiative that supports tribal communities in integrating sustainable cultural practices, land stewardship, and traditional foods into their local Indigenous food systems. Provides details on a 2023-2025 USDA-FNS and Newman's Own Foundation grant that enabled 16 tribal communities across the U.S. to revitalize their food systems through school programming and community partnerships.
Author(s): Leah Simeon, Richard Elm-Hill, Cetan Christensen, et al.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: First Nations Development Institute
view details
Building a Healthier Texas: Innovations in Diabetes Prevention Across Texas
Webinar discussing how access to healthy food and nutrition education support diabetes prevention in Texas, featuring perspectives and program examples presented by members of Texas healthcare and food access organizations. Includes discussion of food access in rural and border communities and nutrition support and education opportunities related to the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). See video description for transcript.
Author(s): Ankit Sanghavi, Janet Walker, Rachel Koay, Jasmynn Lahner, Karl Serrao
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Feeding Texas, Texas Association of Community Health Plans (TACHP), Texas Health Institute
view details
Webinar discussing how access to healthy food and nutrition education support diabetes prevention in Texas, featuring perspectives and program examples presented by members of Texas healthcare and food access organizations. Includes discussion of food access in rural and border communities and nutrition support and education opportunities related to the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). See video description for transcript.
Author(s): Ankit Sanghavi, Janet Walker, Rachel Koay, Jasmynn Lahner, Karl Serrao
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Feeding Texas, Texas Association of Community Health Plans (TACHP), Texas Health Institute
view details
Food Security, Access, and Health Outcomes in Rural America: Challenges and Policy Pathways
A recorded webinar focused on access to nutritious and affordable food options in rural areas and the relationship between food security and health outcomes. Discusses policy and collaborative efforts to improve rural food security. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slides
Author(s): Krystal Hodge, Bhagyashree Katare
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
view details
A recorded webinar focused on access to nutritious and affordable food options in rural areas and the relationship between food security and health outcomes. Discusses policy and collaborative efforts to improve rural food security. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slides
Author(s): Krystal Hodge, Bhagyashree Katare
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
view details
Older Americans Act: Greatest Economic and Social Needs of Rural Older Adults
Policy brief discussing the economic and social needs for rural older adults. Offers policy and action recommendations for the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, discussing rural aging programs, affordable housing, access to nutrition, social isolation, healthcare workforce shortages, and caregiver support.
Author(s): Kathy Greenlee, Abby Cox, L. Carter Florence, Josh Protas, and Rebecca Yeboah
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Policy brief discussing the economic and social needs for rural older adults. Offers policy and action recommendations for the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, discussing rural aging programs, affordable housing, access to nutrition, social isolation, healthcare workforce shortages, and caregiver support.
Author(s): Kathy Greenlee, Abby Cox, L. Carter Florence, Josh Protas, and Rebecca Yeboah
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Closing the Summer Hunger Gap in Rural America
Informational sheet about rural food insecurity in the summer, with a focus on SUN Meals To-Go and Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) programs.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
view details
Informational sheet about rural food insecurity in the summer, with a focus on SUN Meals To-Go and Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) programs.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
view details