Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Food security and nutrition
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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Implementing Nutrition Policy, System and Environmental Change Strategies in a Rural Food Pantry to Improve Nutrition Security: Contextual Factors and Outcomes
Discusses policy, system, and environmental (PSE) food security strategies by analyzing the facilitators and barriers at a volunteer-run food pantry in rural Georgia. Utilizes client surveys, informant interviews, and program documents to examine the pantry's nutrition policy, food storage methods, partnerships, capacity, volunteer expertise, and more.
Author(s): April K. Hermstad, Lauren M. Bigger, Karen Ebey-Tessendorf, Gloria C. Simmons, Michelle C. Kegler
Citation: Public Health Nutrition, 29(1),12
Date: 12/2025
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Discusses policy, system, and environmental (PSE) food security strategies by analyzing the facilitators and barriers at a volunteer-run food pantry in rural Georgia. Utilizes client surveys, informant interviews, and program documents to examine the pantry's nutrition policy, food storage methods, partnerships, capacity, volunteer expertise, and more.
Author(s): April K. Hermstad, Lauren M. Bigger, Karen Ebey-Tessendorf, Gloria C. Simmons, Michelle C. Kegler
Citation: Public Health Nutrition, 29(1),12
Date: 12/2025
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Maternal and Child Health Services Title V Block Grant - Hawaii: FY 2026 Application/FY 2024 Annual Report
Describes Hawaii's maternal and child health programs, which include initiatives related to access to care, family violence and neglect, sleep environment, developmental screening, preventive care, mental health supports, and more. Includes discussion of rural topics including healthcare access, activities of the Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, and more.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Hawaii State Department of Health
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Describes Hawaii's maternal and child health programs, which include initiatives related to access to care, family violence and neglect, sleep environment, developmental screening, preventive care, mental health supports, and more. Includes discussion of rural topics including healthcare access, activities of the Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, and more.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Hawaii State Department of Health
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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
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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
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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.
Author(s): Krystal Hodge, Bhagyashree Katare
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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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.
Author(s): Krystal Hodge, Bhagyashree Katare
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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