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Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Experts Weigh in on SNAP Problems and Solutions

January 29th, 2013 by

A recent study by members of the SNAP to Health Project Team was published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (JAND).  Experts from advocacy, government, industry and research organizations were interviewed about the challenges SNAP participants face eating nutritiously with SNAP benefits.  Respondents also gave their opinions about improvements that could be made to the program to help overcome these challenges. After ... more >

Proposed SNAP Changes Featured in JAMA: Reducing Hunger and Obesity Among Low-Income Children

January 18th, 2013 by

Members of the SNAP to Health Project Team recently published a viewpoint article in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) about reducing childhood hunger and obesity by restructuring the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Authors David Ludwig, MD, PhD, Susan Blumenthal, MD, MPA (Project Director), and Walter Willett, MD, DrPH note that adequate nutrition is essential during childhood; it impacts physical development, cognitive performance, ... more >

Guest post: Gary Oppenheimer, “No Food Left Behind”

December 10th, 2012 by

Gary Oppenheimer is the Founder of AmpleHarvest.Org. In 2012, he lectured at the TEDxManhattan conference, and in 2010, Oppenheimer was named a CNN Hero. According to a 2009 study by the National Gardening Association, more than 43 million Americans grow fruit, herbs and vegetables in home gardens – and that number is increasing. These gardeners, given good soil, access to water, lots of sun, and a ... more >

The Farm Bill – Where do we go from here?

October 11th, 2012 by

The Farm Bill, a multi-billion dollar piece of legislation that funds federal food assistance programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Food Assistance program known as SNAP (≈75% of the bill), commodity subsidy programs (≈10%), and conservation programs (≈9%), usually is in effect for five years. The current bill expired on September 30, 2012, although many of the programs are funded through January 2013. On September 9, 2011, ... more >

View Videos of the SNAP To Health Capitol Hill Briefing

October 9th, 2012 by

Are you interested in learning more about what was discussed at the recent SNAP To Health Capitol Hill Briefing? The forum held on July 18th, 2012 convened leading public health and nutrition experts to discuss innovative strategies to reduce food insecurity, prevent obesity and improve the health of low income people in the United States, especially during these challenging times when 1 out of 6 ... more >

SNAP to Health Briefing: Official Press Release

July 19th, 2012 by

New CSPC Study By Top Health Experts Points to Need for SNAP (Food Stamp Program) to Tackle Obesity Crisis in Addition to Food Insecurity Comprehensive Study Urges Public Health Approaches and Innovations That Make SNAP a 21st Century Program to Address Today's Dual Crises WASHINGTON, Jul 18, 2012 (GlobeNewswire) -- Underscoring the need to protect and enhance the effectiveness of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) -- ... more >

What happens to school lunches in the summer months?

July 17th, 2012 by

During the school year, almost 20 million children receive free or reduced-priced lunch through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Nearly 10 million of these children also receive free or reduced-price breakfast through the School Breakfast Program (SBP). But when summer vacation comes around, where do these children receive the meals that they rely on when school is in session? Some nutrition assistance continues to be ... more >

Healthy Eating Can Cost Less According to USDA Study

May 22nd, 2012 by

Are healthy foods really more expensive? That is a key question as well as the title of a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture report. High cost is often mentioned as a barrier to eating healthy foods like fruit and vegetables. There is a common perception that healthy foods cost less than less healthy foods. Previous research, for example from Drewnowski and colleagues (2010), which looks ... more >

Childhood Obesity Rates Remain High Among Low-Income Families

May 18th, 2012 by

Over the past few decades, there has been a steady rise in the rates of childhood obesity across the nation. In the United States, approximately one in three children is currently overweight or obese. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Even more alarming, Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona characterized the threat as follows: “Because ... more >

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