Healthy Eating

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Parents and staff are highly supportive of freshly prepared school meals but raise concerns about food waste

September 22, 2025
By Brianna Aguayo Villalon, Danielle Lee, KC Fiedler, Lorrene D Ritchie
A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior explored the perceptions of elementary school parents and staff in a large, urban California school district that recently introduced more freshly-prepared school lunches. Based on interviews and focus groups conducted from May…
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Combining school environment changes with SNAP-Ed lessons improves student diets

September 11, 2025
By Summer J Cortez, Reka Vasicsek, Amanda M Linares, Miranda W Brown
The Nutrition Policy Institute is excited to share our latest peer-reviewed publication in the Journal of Community Health, “Dietary Effects of School-Based SNAP-Ed Education with and without Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change Strategies.” This study examines how Supplemental Nutrition Assistance…
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New WIC study finds social support encourages program participation

September 10, 2025
By Jean Aquino, Danielle Lee, KC Fiedler, Lorrene D Ritchie
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, commonly known as WIC, provides nutritious food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and health care referrals to pregnant and postpartum women and families with young children with low income. WIC participation improves…
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Benefits of School Meals for All policies highlighted in California School Boards Association’s California Schools magazine

September 8, 2025
By Danielle Lee, Wendi Gosliner
Nutrition Policy Institute School Meals for All research was featured in a guest article in the summer issue of the California School Boards Association’s quarterly magazine, California Schools. The article highlights California’s School Meals for All policy, also known as universal school meals,…
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two orange and green tomatoes with water droplets appear on a vine
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Central Sierra: To Prune Tomatoes or Not to Prune Tomatoes

August 19, 2025
Understanding the when, why, and how of pruning tomatoes for the best yield To prune or not to prune tomatoes, that is a question that backyard tomato growers need to answer for themselves. Growing strong, healthy tomato plants increases the chance of getting a large crop of delicious tomatoes. The…
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New research brief examines strengths and opportunities to support health promotion practices in early childhood programs

July 31, 2025
By Reka Vasicsek, Summer J Cortez, Miranda W Brown
Research by the Nutrition Policy Institute’s CalFresh Healthy Living team highlights the importance of providing tailored resources and support for nutrition and physical activity in childcare settings to create equitable early childhood environments. CalFresh Healthy Living, known nationally as SNAP-Ed,…
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[PODCAST] Home Grown Tomatoes
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Tomatoes Being Attacked - Orange County

July 30, 2025
Question: I have some tomatoes that haven't ripened yet and have these brown scars on the bottom and this one also had some large bites out of the other side. I've been spraying the tomatoes with a bit of cedar oil diluted with water in the mornings but no other things.Do you know what might be causing…
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Classes & Events in Solano and Yolo Counties

We share University of California, USDA , and Cooperative Extension research-based practices in the safe home food preservation of our local bounty in Solano and Yolo Counties! The schedule is full of great classes such as:Food safetyPreservation equipmentBoiling water, steam canning, and…
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