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
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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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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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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
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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
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The 2026 Summer Nutrition Summit - Digital Agenda
Provides the agenda and slide decks from the No Kid Hungry 2026 Summer Nutrition Summit. Focuses on topics such as summer non-congregate meals in rural areas, creation of sustainable summer food programs, outreach and communication about meal availability, and case studies describing rural summer food programs.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Provides the agenda and slide decks from the No Kid Hungry 2026 Summer Nutrition Summit. Focuses on topics such as summer non-congregate meals in rural areas, creation of sustainable summer food programs, outreach and communication about meal availability, and case studies describing rural summer food programs.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Leveraging Community Health Workers' Deep Community Knowledge to Address Food and Nutrition Security in Appalachia
Examines professional characteristics and knowledge of rural Appalachian community health workers in Kentucky and West Virginia, based on data from online surveys and phone interviews conducted from January to May 2019. Identifies culturally sensitive practices around food insecurity.
Author(s): Alexis Kimbro Scott, Melissa D. Olfert, Dawn Brewer, Makenzie Barr, Julie Plasencia
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 7(4), 89-99
Date: 12/2025
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Examines professional characteristics and knowledge of rural Appalachian community health workers in Kentucky and West Virginia, based on data from online surveys and phone interviews conducted from January to May 2019. Identifies culturally sensitive practices around food insecurity.
Author(s): Alexis Kimbro Scott, Melissa D. Olfert, Dawn Brewer, Makenzie Barr, Julie Plasencia
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 7(4), 89-99
Date: 12/2025
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