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Low-income households may acquire foods from purchases, federal food assistance, and alternative food sources (AFS) to meet their food needs. The objectives of this study were to quantify and compa...

This study examines the role of computational and Nutrition Facts Label (NFL) skills in health literacy classifications using the Newest Vital Sign (NVS). A convenience sample of 144 SNAP-eligible ...

Because children spend significant time in school settings, school-based programs have great potential to prevent childhood obesity. Nutrition education and physical activity programs may be more effective, however, when they engage parents to reinforce key messages and behaviors outside of school settings. The Maryland Food Supplement Nutrition Education program (FSNE) partnered with 23 Title I elementary schools in Maryland to develop and administer Text2BHealthy, an innovative text message program that engages parents in their children’s school-based nutrition education. Text2BHealthy sends 2 behaviorally focused text messages to enrolled parents each week. These messages provide actionable nudges that encourage improved nutrition and physical activity and reference upcoming free or low-cost opportunities and events in the child’s school and the surrounding community. Preliminary evaluation results suggest that Text2BHealthy resulted in improvements on a number of fruit and vegetable practices of parents and their children. Additional evaluation research is needed to demonstrate efficacy of text message programs and program components.

Food insecurity is a substantial stressor for many households. Though an association between food insecurity and depression has been well established, most studies have been cross-sectional. Although many receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), its role in reducing distress associated with food insecurity is unclear. Using data from 1,225 women who participated in the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, this study investigated 1) whether change in food security status predicts change in depression severity over a two-year period, 2) whether participating in SNAP predicts depression, and 3) whether the relationship between food insecurity and depression varies based on receipt of SNAP. Food insecurity was linked to probability of depression over time. Additionally, for those who became food insecure over the two-year period, losing SNAP benefits was associated with increased probability of depression, while gaining benefits was associated with reduced probability of depression. This suggests that the SNAP program offsets emotional hardship for those who have recently become food insecure. Further research is needed to evaluate the most efficient and efficacious means to reduce food insecurity and improve emotional wellbeing among vulnerable families.

This study explored the role of social support as low-income individuals endure experiences of food insecurity. The sample includes 37 participants who indicated being challenged by food insecurity and identified using social networks in some capacity in the acquisition of food. Data was analyzed following a grounded theory approach. Participants emphasized the utility of networks (family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors) and the value of resource exchange and pooling strategies to reduce impacts of food insecurity. Attention is given to the appraisal process, which includes assessing one’s own needs and resources as well as their network’s ability to offer help. Important implications for policy and practice addressing social safety net and food programs are discussed.

This study examined changes in food security status over time in a sample of rural, low-income mothers. Independent samples t-tests determined differences between food-secure and food-insecure mothers on variables such as employment status, food resource management skills, food assistance, and economic well-being at 3 points in time. Findings indicate that mothers in food-secure households were significantly more likely to possess food resource management skills than mothers in food-insecure households in the first wave of data, but that this relationship was not found when examined in the second and third waves. Findings emphasize the need for further research and testing with nutrition education programs to identify the extent to which skills and resources protect rural, low-income families from food insecurity.