Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Food security and nutrition
Reaching the Last Mile: Strategies for Serving Ultra-Rural Populations
A recorded webinar that discusses barriers when serving meals to ultra-rural and remote populations and provides related insights, strategies, and collaborative approaches to reach communities. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slide Deck
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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A recorded webinar that discusses barriers when serving meals to ultra-rural and remote populations and provides related insights, strategies, and collaborative approaches to reach communities. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slide Deck
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Rural Non-Congregate Summer Meals: How Sponsors Are Implementing This Option
A fact sheet that provides information on the implementation of the Rural Non-Congregate option as an expansion of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the National School Lunch Program's Seamless Summer Option (SSO). Includes spotlights of local programs and their various meal service and distribution methods, delivery options, and partnerships.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Food Research & Action Center
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A fact sheet that provides information on the implementation of the Rural Non-Congregate option as an expansion of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the National School Lunch Program's Seamless Summer Option (SSO). Includes spotlights of local programs and their various meal service and distribution methods, delivery options, and partnerships.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Food Research & Action Center
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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
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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
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Non-Congregate 101: The Building Blocks To Successful And Sustainable Rural Summer Meals
A recorded webinar that discusses rural non‑congregate (RNC) summer meals and a model to provide service to geographically dispersed communities. Includes information about budgeting, sustainability, outreach, participation, and more. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slide Deck
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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A recorded webinar that discusses rural non‑congregate (RNC) summer meals and a model to provide service to geographically dispersed communities. Includes information about budgeting, sustainability, outreach, participation, and more. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slide Deck
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
view details
How Local Food Policy Councils Can Strengthen Summer Meal Programs
Profiles the Greenwood Counts Community Consortium's (GC3) Food and Hunger Alliance in South Carolina, a Local Food Policy Council (LFPC) focused on improving food systems and providing non-congregate meal options for rural families and children. Discusses the purpose and impact of LFPCs and their role in addressing food insecurity.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Profiles the Greenwood Counts Community Consortium's (GC3) Food and Hunger Alliance in South Carolina, a Local Food Policy Council (LFPC) focused on improving food systems and providing non-congregate meal options for rural families and children. Discusses the purpose and impact of LFPCs and their role in addressing food insecurity.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Perspectives on Universal Free School Meals Among Rural Middle and High School Students: A Mixed-Methods Study
Examines perspectives on Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) among students living in rural Maine. Utilizes survey and interview data among middle and high school students to analyze student characteristics, meal preferences, and perceptions of school breakfasts and lunches.
Author(s): Ashley Kesack, Michele Polacsek, Alexis Schneider, Juliana F. W. Cohen
Citation: Nutrients, 18(3), 540
Date: 02/2026
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Examines perspectives on Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) among students living in rural Maine. Utilizes survey and interview data among middle and high school students to analyze student characteristics, meal preferences, and perceptions of school breakfasts and lunches.
Author(s): Ashley Kesack, Michele Polacsek, Alexis Schneider, Juliana F. W. Cohen
Citation: Nutrients, 18(3), 540
Date: 02/2026
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Transforming Rural Health: Strategies from the Field - Food Insecurity
A brief that provides an overview on food insecurity in rural areas. Discusses examples of rural-focused food programs and their strategies to create partnerships, enhance food access, and improve health outcomes.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Policy Center
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A brief that provides an overview on food insecurity in rural areas. Discusses examples of rural-focused food programs and their strategies to create partnerships, enhance food access, and improve health outcomes.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Policy Center
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Associations Between Diet Quality and Psychosocial and Environmental Factors in Rural Adults
Surveys 2,420 rural adults in New York and Texas to identify social and environmental factors impacting diet quality.
Author(s): Rebecca A. Seguin-Fowler, Karla L. Hanson, Galen D. Eldridge, et al.
Citation: Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior: Advancing Research, Practice, & Policy, 58(2), 117-125
Date: 02/2026
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Surveys 2,420 rural adults in New York and Texas to identify social and environmental factors impacting diet quality.
Author(s): Rebecca A. Seguin-Fowler, Karla L. Hanson, Galen D. Eldridge, et al.
Citation: Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior: Advancing Research, Practice, & Policy, 58(2), 117-125
Date: 02/2026
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Caregiver Perceptions of USDA Rural Non-Congregate Summer Meals for Children in California
Presents results of survey on the benefits, accessibility, and practicality of SUN Meals To-Go, a USDA rural non-congregate summer meal program, in California among caregivers of children who received services in the summer of 2024. Provides data and interview excerpts highlighting caregiver perspectives.
Author(s): Emily Patten, J. Mitchell Vaterlaus, Lori A. Spruance, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(2), 270
Date: 01/2026
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Presents results of survey on the benefits, accessibility, and practicality of SUN Meals To-Go, a USDA rural non-congregate summer meal program, in California among caregivers of children who received services in the summer of 2024. Provides data and interview excerpts highlighting caregiver perspectives.
Author(s): Emily Patten, J. Mitchell Vaterlaus, Lori A. Spruance, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(2), 270
Date: 01/2026
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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
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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
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