This website is being reviewed for updates. Some information is offline. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Food security and nutrition

Disparities Between Rural and Urban Communities: Response to 18 Months of Diet and Exercise Versus Control for Knee Osteoarthritis and Overweight or Obesity
Examines intervention outcomes related to pain, function, mobility, BMI, and health-related quality of life among rural and urban dwellers in North Carolina. Utilizes data from the Weight Loss and Exercise for Communities with Arthritis in North Carolina (WE-CAN) program, which provided diet and exercise (D+E) and attention control (C) interventions to 823 older adults.
Author(s): Stephen P Messier, Megan G Monroe, Leigh F Callahan, et al.
Citation: Arthritis Care & Research, 77(1), 69-76
Date: 11/2024
view details
Formative Evaluation of a Grocery Store-Based Nutrition Incentive Program in a Primarily Rural State
Analyzes nutrition incentive programs (NIPs) that incentivize the purchase of fruits and vegetables and their implementation in grocery stores. Reports on a formative evaluation of NIPs in Oklahoma and discusses implementation challenges. Focuses on program issues that may emerge in a mostly rural state such as employee training, increased personnel needs, and communication between NIP program and retailers.
Author(s): Christopher S. Moghaddami, Marianna S. Wetherill, Richard Comeau, Leslie Young, Mary B. Williams
Citation: Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 35(4)
Date: 11/2024
view details
Identifying Areas of High Vulnerability for Rural Veteran Food Insecurity
Examines and locates veteran food insecurity in rural areas by mapping areas of high vulnerability with geographic information systems (GIS). Utilizes multiple data sources to map out Veterans Health Administration (VHA) locations, food deserts, high veteran population density, low community health rankings, and more. Shows locations in the U.S. that have a high population of veterans and food insecurity that are near a VHA location and may benefit from interventions.
Author(s): Sarah E. Bradley, Jacquelyn Heuer, Bridget Hahm, Kristin Pettey, Karen Besterman-Dahan
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 15
Date: 11/2024
view details
USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T): Rapid Cycle Evaluation of Seven Interventions (Summary)
Examines interventions to improve Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program operations and delivery. Analyzes text messaging strategies to increase program enrollment, with examples from rural areas.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
view details
Future Directions for Rural Population Research: Findings from RPRN's Listening Sessions
Summarizes 5 listening sessions with rural development practitioners aiming to identify areas of research need by rural population researchers. Discusses trends in agriculture and food systems, community and economic development, the environment and natural resources, and health, healthcare, and disability services. Offers recommendations related to information sharing, community involvement in research, data gathering, and best practices and evaluation.
Author(s): Kristina Brant, Paige, Kelly, Danielle Rhubart, et al.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Population Research Network
view details
Fiscal Years 2021-2023 USDA Report to Congress on Reducing Barriers to Food Access
Examines federal strategies between October 2020 and September 2023 to improve food access in the United States. Discusses resilient food systems, nutrition assistance programs, safety and sustainability, and research and evaluation activities. Includes examples of rural and tribal development, food policy, and funding.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
view details
Barriers to Access to Local Produce in an Early Childhood Setting in Rural Appalachia
Analyzes access to fresh produce in early childhood programs in Appalachia as well as farm to school programming. Utilizes semi-structured interview feedback with program directors to examine issues such as staffing, increased work loads, regulations, and lack of funding, knowledge, parental involvement, and equipment.
Author(s): Erali' Tracie Miller, Kathleen Schroeder, Bhuwan Thapa, Elizabeth Shay
Citation: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 14(1), 1-15.
Date: 10/2024
view details
Trends in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Rates: Fiscal Year 2020 and Fiscal Year 2022
Presents information on eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) alongside actual participation in SNAP. Presents information on households, children, elderly, refugees, low-income families, persons with disabilities, and other groups enrolled in the program. Tables A.3 and B.3 show rural versus urban participation.
Additional links: Summary
Author(s): Alma Vigil, Nima Rahimi
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
view details
2023 Summer Non-Congregate Meal Service: Results from the 2023 Summer Non-Congregate Sponsor Survey
Evaluates the implementation of the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which permanently allowed for rural non-congregate meal service as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Meal Programs. Provides 2023 survey data from State agency sponsors operating summer non-congregate meal service for children, with a focus on site participation, sponsor experiences, meal pick up sites, meal delivery, and future plans for non-congregate meal service.
Additional links: Appendix A - Survey, Data Tables
Author(s): Susannah Barr
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
view details
A Qualitative Study of Rural Plant-Based Eaters' Knowledge and Practices for Nutritional Adequacy
Examines nutritional knowledge, strategies, and access to nutritional expertise among 28 adults who follow a flexitarian, pescatarian, vegan, or vegetarian diet in rural Vermont. Discusses factors influencing the nutritional adequacy of plant-based diets, and identifies gaps in nutritional support for rural people following plant-based diets.
Author(s): Michelle Leonetti, Jane Kolodinsky, Amy Trubek, Emily H. Belarmino
Citation: Nutrients, 16(20), 3504
Date: 10/2024
view details