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Nutrition Policy Institute
@npi.ucanr.edu
110 followers 190 following 83 posts
The @ucanr.bsky.social Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI) envisions a world where healthy foods, beverages & physical activity are convenient, accessible, affordable & sustainable for all. NPI conducts and translates policy-relevant research.
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npi.ucanr.edu
This #GivingTuesday —December 2—join @npi.ucanr.edu to support the NPI Student Research Experience, providing valuable professional experience for first-generation students and those with lived experience with food insecurity and underrepresented in research & dietetics!
🔗 give.ucanr.edu/forms/NPI
A female African American college student sits outside with her laptop and looks down at a piece of paper. The Nutrition Policy Institute logo and a QR code directing people to the NPI donation page is included. The text reads: "Giving Tuesday. Together We Give. Donate to the NPI Student Research Experience. December 2, 2025 - Midnight to Midnight."
November 24, 2025 at 7:26 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
We’re recruiting study participants! Do you have a toddler? Get free milk and up to $275 by participating in our @npi.ucanr.edu @ucanr.edu Milk Type in Toddlers study on childhood milk consumption. Complete this survey to see if you are eligible: studypages.com/s/milk-type-...
A young girl drinks milk from a glass with a pink straw. The Nutrition Policy Institute and Stanford Medicine logos are included. The text reads: "MILK-TOT Study is now enrolling! The University of California and Stanford Medicine are inviting toddlers ages 2-3 and their parents to join a research study on milk in young children. The purpose of this study is to see how the type of milk (whole fat vs. low fat 1%) consumed between the aged of 2-3 years old affects the health, growth, and development of young children. Study investigator: Lorrene Ritchie PhD, RD, Nutrition Policy Institute, Nutrition Specialist - Emeritus, UCANR Cooperative Extension. Call, Text, Scan: 415-509-3530." Lorrene Ritchie's photo is included. A QR code linking to the study webpage is also included.
November 20, 2025 at 11:22 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
Lauren Au from @ucdavis.bsky.social—and a @npi.ucanr.edu @ucanr.edu affiliated researcher—spoke with with Capitol Public Radio about how food assistance benefits work, and how they can be vulnerable to decisions made on the federal level. www.capradio.org/articles/202...
In the shutdown’s wake, how fragile are benefits programs like SNAP, WIC?
Millions of people across California and the U.S. experienced nearly two weeks of uncertainty during the record-breaking shutdown after food assistance funding ran dry. These same programs saw expansi...
www.capradio.org
November 19, 2025 at 11:53 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
📢 New study finds deimplementation of universal free school meals is associated with declines in meal participation, reduced foodservice revenues, and increased meal debt and stigma. Universal school meal policies expand student access to healthy meals, supporting better nutrition.
bit.ly/4gd4IWJ
Screenshot of the published article’s abstract.
November 17, 2025 at 6:49 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
Job opportunity at the @npi.ucanr.edu @ucanr! We are seeking a post-doctoral researcher (Assistant Project Scientist) to support youth cardiometabolic health, school recess & PE, school meals, and policy implementation science. Apply by 2/2/26: recruit.ucanr.edu/JPF00340 #Hiring #NutritionResearch
Kids jumping rope in a school gym. The text reads: Job Opportunity. Assistant Project Scientist. Apply online by Jan. 2, 2026 to assure full consideration:https://recruit.ucanr.edu/JPF00340. The Nutrition Policy Institute logo is included.
November 4, 2025 at 6:49 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
Exciting news! @npi.ucanr.edu researchers will present their latest nutrition & physical activity policy studies at the 2025 @apha.org in Washington, D.C., Nov 2–5. This year’s theme is “Making the Public’s Health a National Priority.” #APHA2025 Learn more: bit.ly/48Uyyhf
APHA 2025 Annual Meeting & Expo banner with statement on the right reading, “Making the Public’s Health a National Priority,” and the date and location, “November 2-5, 2025, Washington, D.C.”
October 30, 2025 at 3:32 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
📢 New research brief finds 1-in-5 California schools serve scratch-cooked meals daily. Most schools are challenged with inadequate funding, staffing, and kitchen infrastructure, limiting their provision of minimally processed meals. Learn more: bit.ly/4nC7VCh
Screenshot of research brief summary page.
October 29, 2025 at 9:27 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
We are excited to welcome graduate student Char Potes from @publichealth.berkeley.edu to the @npi.ucanr.edu @ucanr.edu
team! Potes will be our @uofcalifornia.bsky.social Bonnie Reiss Sustainable Agriculture & Food Fellow to support our Farm to Corrections work! Learn more: bit.ly/4hzWVTV
Headshot of Char Potes. The text reads: "Welcoming Char Potes! Sustainable Agriculture & Food Fellow, 2025-2026 University of California, Bonnie Reiss Climate Action Fellowship." The Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources logo is included.
October 28, 2025 at 3:52 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
🏫New @npi.ucanr.edu research in Public Health Nutrition shows students attending schools with SNAP-Ed interventions ate fruits & veggies more often—and got more activity! 🍎💪🏽 Impacts varied by school context, revealing need for tailored approaches to optimize student health. Learn more bit.ly/4op6DKK
A young girl smiling and eating an orange. Text overlay reads: New NPI research highlights how school context influences the impact of SNAP-Ed interventions on students' diet and activity levels. Abstract for “Student and school characteristics modify the impact of SNAP-Ed on student dietary and physical activity outcomes,” and the associated 2-page research brief.
October 27, 2025 at 10:24 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
@npi.ucanr.edu presented at the annual @nourishcalifornia.bsky.social CalFresh Forum on Oct 23 at Compton College! NPI’s policy team lead a session on “CalFresh, School Meals, and Hungry Kids.” Learn more: bit.ly/3L7hScr
CalFresh Forum event banner with date, October 23, 2025, and stamp design with Nourish California bear and star logo.
October 24, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Reposted by Nutrition Policy Institute
ucanr.edu
We've launched a refreshed brand portfolio uniting 18 sub-brands under a modern look that reflects our statewide impact.

🌿 Celebrate with us — enter our logo item raffle! 📷 5 winners chosen Nov 7: bit.ly/4qkRwEd

Learn more: bit.ly/4ox4qNt
#UCANR
October 23, 2025 at 10:10 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
📢 The @npi.ucanr.edu is excited to launch its new logo as part of the @ucanr.edu rebrand! Our fresh, unified look reflects NPI’s and UC ANR’s commitment to healthier food, people, and places across California and the nation! 🎉 Learn more: bit.ly/4hpU53q
October 23, 2025 at 11:16 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
@npi.ucanr.edu researchers are in Monterey Oct 20-22 for the 34th Annual CACFP Conference! 🌊 Lorrene Ritchie moderates the keynote, Ritchie & Christina Hecht will discuss ultra-processed foods, Hecht will talk about lead testing, and meet our director Hannah Thompson at our booth! bit.ly/473yN75
Photos of Christina Hecht and Brian Currier to promote their talk at the 34th Annual CACFP Conference on Oct. 21, 2:30-3:30pm in Cypress III on "Testing for Lead in California Licensed Childcare Tap Water: What Did We Learn?" Photos of Lorrene Ritchie and Christina Hecht at the 34th Annual CACFP Conference on Oct. 21, 4-5pm in Spy Glass I-II on "Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs): What Are They, Why Should You Care—and What You Can Do About Them."
October 13, 2025 at 10:05 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
We’re recruiting study participants! Do you have a toddler? Get free milk and up to $275 by participating in our @npi.ucanr.edu @ucanr.edu Milk Type in Toddlers study on childhood milk consumption. Complete this survey to see if you are eligible: studypages.com/s/milk-type-...
A young girl drinks milk from a glass with a pink straw. The Nutrition Policy Institute and Stanford Medicine logos are included. The text reads: "MILK-TOT Study is now enrolling! The University of California and Stanford Medicine are inviting toddlers ages 2-3 and their parents to join a research study on milk in young children. The purpose of this study is to see how the type of milk (whole fat vs. low fat 1%) consumed between the aged of 2-3 years old affects the health, growth, and development of young children. Study investigator: Lorrene Ritchie PhD, RD, Nutrition Policy Institute Director, University of California ANR." Lorrene Ritchie's photo is included.
October 10, 2025 at 7:33 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
📢 New @npi.ucanr.edu @berkeleypublichlth.bsky.social @hsph.harvard.edu study finds that consistent, accessible safety net benefits during COVID-19 reduced family stress & food insecurity. Researchers urge policymakers to prioritize reliable supports to support health and well-being. bit.ly/3KB125D
Quote from caregiver recipient of safety net supports during COVID-19 pandemic reading, “These programs can be the difference between survival and literally death for people and for children.. you are giving them foundational things to survive upon… a house, food… some sense of security.” Screenshot of abstract information on AJPH website.
October 10, 2025 at 7:32 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
A @newyorker.com piece spotlights school meals in the MAHA era. @ucdavisnutrition.bsky.social's Lauren Au, PhD, RD—an @ucanr.edu @npi.ucanr.edu affiliated researcher—discusses NPI’s 2018 study showing how the 2010 Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act improved kids’ diets. www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
What Happens to School Lunches in the MAHA Era?
R.F.K., Jr., promised healthier food for kids, but the Trump Administration is cutting programs that achieve this goal.
www.newyorker.com
October 7, 2025 at 5:14 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
📢 New study finds children’s diet quality is linked to longer WIC participation. Expanding safety-net programs like WIC can help improve health and nutrition among low-income families. Learn more: bit.ly/4n0vswl
Screenshot of abstract and author information on CDN journal website.
October 1, 2025 at 6:45 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
🎉 Something new is on the horizon! Our new logo is coming soon and will help reflect @npi.ucanr.edu's long-standing mission of conducting research for healthy food, people, and places! 🍎🥕
NPI’s new logo on the left, an open book with a fork and leaves. Text reading “fresh look, same mission” to the right, and underneath text reading, “A new logo is coming this October-stay tuned!”
September 30, 2025 at 7:00 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
“For years, NPI has built this unbelievably successful track record of producing evidence that directly informs some of the largest programs we have in the U.S., and that has had tremendous national public health impact.” - Hannah Thompson, @npi.ucanr.edu @ucanr.edu. Morning AgClips: bit.ly/4pHpp1r
New Nutrition Policy Institute Director to Emphasize Community Participation in Research
Epidemiologist Hannah Thompson, “Recess For All” expert, studies physical activity and health for youth in California.
bit.ly
September 29, 2025 at 11:46 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
🎉 We are excited to welcome Hannah R. Thompson as our new director at the @npi.ucanr.edu @ucanr.edu ! She has served as NPI’s senior epidemiologist since 2020, and she is a leading researcher in physical education, recess and nutritious school meals! Learn more about Hannah: bit.ly/48zUqhH
A headshot of Hannah R. Thompson with the UC ANR Nutrition Policy Institute logo in white over a blue background. The text reads: "“I feel strongly about continuing the legacy of community-based, participatory action research—doing work that is designed not just to end up in some academic journal, but that’s really going to inform policy and practice on the ground. - Hannah R. Thompson, NPI Director.”
September 25, 2025 at 5:14 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
Going to #TerraMadreAmericas in Sacramento this weekend? Stop by the UCANR exhibitor booth on Friday 9/26 and Saturday 9/27 to chat with @npi.ucanr.edu researchers about our food systems research! We'll be giving away free NPI swag!
ucanr.edu UC Agriculture & Natural Resources @ucanr.edu · Sep 22
We’re bringing #ATasteofCalifornia to #TerraMadreAmericas in Sacramento! 🌍🍓
Sept 26–28 at SAFE Credit Union CC — enjoy free samples, cooking demos, local vendors, & more.
👉 terramadreusa.com
September 23, 2025 at 3:43 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
Parents and staff in California elementary schools 🏫 positively perceive freshly prepared school lunches 🥗🍎, but note concerns about food waste ♻️ and vegetarian options. Student input, education 📚, and better kitchen resources could support success. Learn more: bit.ly/4nnQXXP
Image on left of young boy getting food from school cafeteria. On the right is a quote from a school staff member interviewee stating, “I think [freshly prepared meals are] a good way for the kids to see how you should be eating more fresh food, more homemade food, more fruits and vegetables in their meal. I think it’s helped them grow up with that sense of knowledge that they could be eating this stuff.”
September 22, 2025 at 7:55 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
@npi.ucanr.edu nr.edu Director, Hannah Thompson, featured in an ABC 10 article discussing a CA bill that would require chain restaurants to offer at least one healthy kids’ meal, helping busy families make nutritious choices on the go. 🍎🥦 Read more: bit.ly/3Ii0j8B
Hannah Thompson quote stating, "Those [healthy habits] are going to track into later life and ultimately help reduce the risk for heart disease, for stroke, for type 2 diabetes, for all of those chronic diseases that are associated with excess consumption of a lot of the nutrients that are found in a typical fast food meal." NPI logo featured at the bottom.
September 12, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Reposted by Nutrition Policy Institute
ritahamad.bsky.social
Thrilled to co-author 2 recent qualitative papers that perfectly demonstrate the importance of mixed methods research to inform US policy. In the first aptly titled "It's confusing as hell" we examined lived experiences of low-income people applying for the EITC. academic.oup.com/healthaffair... 1/
September 12, 2025 at 1:07 PM
npi.ucanr.edu
📚 SNAP-Ed lessons + 🏫 schoolwide changes = 🍎 healthier students. New @npi.ucanr.edu @ucanr.edu research in Journal of Community Health shows combined approaches improve diets more than education alone. Read more: bit.ly/47zp9ep #SNAPEd
A group of 4th and 5th grade students smiling. Text overlay reads: New NPI research shows that combining SNAP-Ed lessons with school environment changes improves student diets more than education alone. Abstract for “Dietary Effects of School-Based SNAP-Ed Education with and without Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change Strategies” in the Journal of Community Health.
September 12, 2025 at 1:43 AM