Publications

Two apricots, one whole and one halved

Explore research, evaluation findings, and success stories from CalFresh Healthy Living, UC on nutrition, physical activity, gardening, and healthy communities.

Publications are grouped by topic so you can go straight to the area you work in. Each section pairs peer-reviewed research with practical summaries and stories from the field. Every publication appears in one topic area only.

New to SNAP-Ed Research?

These publications give the clearest overview of what the program is, what it does, and how its impact is measured.

  • Peer-Reviewed Research

  • Keller, K. J. M., Bruno, P., Foerster, S., & Draper, C. (2024). Thirty years of SNAP-Ed: The transition of the nation’s largest nutrition education program into a pillar of the public health infrastructure. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 56(8), 588–596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2024.03.011

    Naja-Riese, A., Keller, K. J. M., Bruno, P., Foerster, S. B., Puma, J., Whetstone, L., MkNelly, B., Cullinen, K., Jacobs, L., & Sugerman, S. (2019). The SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework: Demonstrating the impact of a national framework for obesity prevention in low-income populations. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 9(5), 970–979. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibz115

    Rivera, R. L., Maulding, M. K., & Eicher-Miller, H. A. (2019). Effect of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education (SNAP-Ed) on food security and dietary outcomes. Nutrition Reviews, 77(12), 903–921. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuz013

SNAP-Ed Background and Policy

How SNAP-Ed developed, how it is administered, and how federal and state policy shapes what the program can do.

  • Peer-Reviewed Research

  • Bleich, S. N., Moran, A. J., Vercammen, K. A., Frelier, J. M., Dunn, C. G., Zhong, A., & Fleischhacker, S. E. (2020). Strengthening the Public Health Impacts of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Through Policy. Annual Review of Public Health, 41, 453–480. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040119-094143

    George, B., & Ravola, M. (2025). The evolution of SNAP-Ed: Policy, systems and environment (PSE) interventions to enhance nutrition security and health equity in the United States. Nutrition & Food Science, 55(2), 402–422. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-08-2024-0278

    Haldeman, L. (2025). What we have learned and continue to learn from SNAP-Ed. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 57(9), 808. https://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(25)00398-7/fulltext

    Leung, C. W., Hoffnagle, E. E., Lindsay, A. C., Lofink, H. E., Hoffman, V. A., Turrell, S., Willett, W. C., & Blumenthal, S. J. (2013). A qualitative study of diverse experts’ views about barriers and strategies to improve the diets and health of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 113(1), 70–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2012.09.018

    Pomeranz, J. L., & Chriqui, J. F. (2015). The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Analysis of program administration and food law definitions. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 49(3), 428–436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2015.02.027

    Prevedel, S., Nelson, C., Buys, D., Cronk, L., Duffy, V., Garden-Robinson, J., Horowitz, M., McGee, B., Reicks, M., Remley, D., & Warren, T. (2018). Cooperative Extension as a partner in creating healthy communities: An environmental scan. Journal of Human Sciences & Extension, 6(2), 26–36. https://doi.org/10.54718/DAGK1654

    Remley, D., Buys, D., Cronk, L., Duffy, V., Garden-Robinson, J., Horowitz, M., McGee, B., Nelson, C., Prevedel, S., Reicks, M., & Warren, T. (2018). The role of Cooperative Extension in chronic disease prevention and management: Perspectives from professionals in the field. Journal of Human Sciences & Extension, 6(2), 15–25. https://doi.org/10.54718/OSZB3038

    Rivera, R. L., Maulding, M. K., & Eicher-Miller, H. A. (2019). Effect of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education (SNAP-Ed) on food security and dietary outcomes. Nutrition Reviews, 77(12), 903–921. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuz013

    Wu, H. W., Backman, D., & Kizer, K. W. (2017). Restructuring a state nutrition education and obesity prevention program: Implications of a local health department model for SNAP-Ed. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 23(1), 28–36. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000000457

  • Related State Resource
  • California’s State Nutrition Action Council (SNAC) was a state-level collaborative with representation from state agencies and nonprofits implementing USDA nutrition programs. The SNAC page hosts downloadable resources for communities.

Garden-Based Education

School and community gardens as settings for nutrition education, plus farm-to-school partnerships.

  • Program Initiative One-Pager
  • This one-pager provides an overview of CalFresh Healthy Living, UC's (CFHL, UC) Garden initiative, including its background and evidence base, along with a brief description of how CFHL, UC staff brought these approaches to life in communities across California. This one-pagers offer a snapshot of the approaches, strategies, and work that contributed to CFHL, UC’s impact in advancing health and well-being throughout the state.
  • Peer-Reviewed Research

  • Guillen, M., & Soule, K. E. (2025). System mapping of farm-to-school partnerships to enhance student access to healthy, local foods. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22, 1342. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/9/1342

    McLaughlin, C., Marrs, A., MkNelly, B. L., Keihner, A. J., Cooke, N., & Soule, K. E. (2026). A pilot study of a youth gardening retrospective survey tool: Evaluating outcomes of school-based, garden-enhanced nutrition education programs. Future, 4(2), 14. https://www.mdpi.com/2813-2882/4/2/14

    Savoie-Roskos, M., Wengreen, H., & Durward, C. (2017). Increasing fruit and vegetable intake among children and youth through gardening-based interventions: A systematic review. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 117(2), 240–250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2016.10.014

Youth Engagement and Leadership

Youth participatory action research, teens as teachers, student advisory councils, and youth-led program models.

  • Program Initiative One-Pager
  • This one-pager provides an overview of CalFresh Healthy Living, UC's (CFHL, UC) Youth Engagement initiative, including its background and evidence base, along with a brief description of how CFHL, UC staff brought these approaches to life in communities across California. This one-pagers offer a snapshot of the approaches, strategies, and work that contributed to CFHL, UC’s impact in advancing health and well-being throughout the state.
  • Peer-Reviewed Research

  • Klisch, S., & Soule, K. E. (2021). 4-H student nutrition advisory councils support positive youth development and health outcomes among underserved populations. Journal of Extension, 59(3), Article 19. https://commons.joe.org/joe/vol59/iss3/19/

    Meng, Y., Neelon, M., LePage, N., Louie, B., & Erbstein, N. (2023). Exploring the challenges and benefits of online youth-led nutrition programs. California Agriculture, 77(3–4), 99–105. https://doi.org/10.3733/ca.2023a0015

    Worker, S., Iaccopucci, A., Bird, M., & Horowitz, M. (2019). Promoting positive youth development through meaningful contribution: A qualitative study of teenagers-as-teachers programs. Journal of Adolescent Research, 34(1), 30–54. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558418764089

  • Conference Abstracts and Papers

  • Hartmann, J., Meng, Y., Padasas, I., Erickson, A., Louie, B., Erbstein, N., MkNelly, B., & Khaira, K. (2026). Building youth capacity for healthier communities: A 6-year evaluation of YPAR in nutrition education [Conference abstract]. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 58(8), S268–S269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2026.06.182

    Iaccopucci, A., Worker, S., Bird, M., & Horowitz, M. (2018, April). Exploring what teens describe as their contributions in teenagers-as-teachers programs [Paper presentation]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, New York, NY. https://www.aera.net/Publications/Online-Paper-Repository/AERA-Online-Paper-Repository 

    Johnson, C., Meng, Y., Neelon, M., Erbstein, N., Louie, B., & Chao, D. (2020). California youth participatory action research projects illustrates the need for nutrition staff professional development [Conference abstract]. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 52(7), S85. https://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(20)30360-2/fulltext

Specific Populations

Work with older adults, tribal communities, farmworker families, and other populations served through targeted partnerships.

  • Peer-Reviewed Research

  • Horowitz, M., Kaiser, L., Aguilera, A., & Manzo, R. (2020). Influence of preschooler and parent nutrition education on carotenoid levels of Mexican-heritage children. Public Health Nutrition, 23(13). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980019004579 

    Kaiser, L., Aguilera, A., Horowitz, M., Lamp, C., Johns, M., Ontai, L., Gomez-Camacho, R., & de la Torre, A. (2015). Correlates of food patterns in young Latino children at high risk of obesity. Public Health Nutrition, 18(16). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980014003309 

    Kaiser, L., Martinez, J., Horowitz, M., Lamp, C., Johns, M., Byrnes, M., Aguilera, A., Gomez-Camacho, R., & de la Torre, A. (2015). Adaptation of a culturally relevant nutrition education program for low-income, Mexican-origin parents with young children. Preventing Chronic Disease, 12 https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd12.140591 

    Soule, K. E. (2026). Asset-based strengths in the CalFresh Healthy Living, California Department of Aging program. In A. Burge (Ed.), Proceedings of the 2026 Hawaii International Conference on Education (pp. 52–69). Hawaii International Conference on Education. https://hiceducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/EDU2026.pdf

  • Conference Abstracts
  • Nicoli, A., Mirelez, J., Ganthavorn, C. Nunez, E., Nunez, V., Carlos, C., Soule, K.E., Morreo, R., & Morreo, F. (2026). Co-capacity building with California Native communities: Partnering for health [Conference abstract]. Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. https://sneb2026.eventscribe.net/searchGlobal.asp

Community Engagement and Partnerships

Participatory approaches, coalition and partnership work, systems mapping, and community-centered program design.

  • Program Initiative One-Pager
  • This one-pager provides an overview of CalFresh Healthy Living, UC's (CFHL, UC) Community Engagement initiative, including its background and evidence base, along with a brief description of how CFHL, UC staff brought these approaches to life in communities across California. This one-pagers offer a snapshot of the approaches, strategies, and work that contributed to CFHL, UC’s impact in advancing health and well-being throughout the state.
  • Peer-Reviewed Research and Book Chapters

  • Brian, K. M., Wong, C., Lopez, M., Rojas, B., McLaughlin, C., Luquin, C., Campero, M. I., & MkNelly, B. L. (in press). Our Voice: A promising strategy for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed). In A. C. King & M. Pedersen (Eds.), Community voices building healthier choices together: A new era of citizen science. Springer Nature.

    Soule, K. E., & Quinlan, E. (in press). Advancing community-centered engagement in the CalFresh Healthy Living, Catholic Charities of California program. Family Science Review.

  • Conference Abstracts

  • Soule, K. E., Davenport, L., Rose, C., & Marczak, M. (2026). Mapping community-centered system changes in SNAP-Ed: Results of participatory ripple effect mapping of stories from the field [Conference abstract]. Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. https://sneb2026.eventscribe.net/searchGlobal.asp 

    McMurdo,T. J., Nicoli, A. M., Padasas, I., & Meng, Y. (2026). Strategies to sustain community-based direct education program delivery [Conference abstract]. (2026). Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. https://sneb2026.eventscribe.net/searchGlobal.asp 

CalFresh Healthy Living Forum Posters

Posters from the statewide CalFresh Healthy Living Forum, published in the Journal of Trauma-Informed Community Health, Nutrition, and Physical Activity.

UC Delivers

These UC Delivers articles are a collection of examples showing how CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE made a difference in California's communities.

Direct Education

Classroom and group nutrition education for children, adults, and families, including curriculum adaptation and food resource management.

  • Program Initiative One-Pager
  • This one-pager provides an overview of CalFresh Healthy Living, UC's (CFHL, UC) Direct Education initiative, including its background and evidence base, along with a brief description of how CFHL, UC staff brought these approaches to life in communities across California. This one-pagers offer a snapshot of the approaches, strategies, and work that contributed to CFHL, UC’s impact in advancing health and well-being throughout the state.
  • Peer-Reviewed Research

  • Caldwell, J. I., Kuo, T., Shah-Patel, D., & Cohen, D. A. (2021). Health behavior changes among adults in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education, Los Angeles County, California. Preventing Chronic Disease, 18, 210221. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd18.210221

    Chaidez, V., Kaiser, L., Algert, S., Horowitz, M., Martin, A., Mendoza, C., Neelon, M., & Ginsburg, D. (2015). Food resource management education with SNAP participation improves food security. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 47(4), 374–378. https://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(15)00052-4/abstract 

    Ganthavorn, C., Neelon, M., Price N. & McMurdo, T. (2023). Hybrid Home-Based Nutrition Education Is an Effective Alternative to In-Person Delivery. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 55 (10), Elsevier, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2023.07.002.

    Kaiser, L., McMurdo, T., & Joy, A. B. (2007). The Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program Focuses on the Learner. Journal of Extension, 45(2), Article 14. https://doi.org/10.66752/1077-5315.4230.

    Nicoli, A., Ganthavorn, C., Mendoza, C., Martin, A., Neelon, M., & Kaiser, L. (2016). A qualitative evaluation of UC CalFresh Plan, Shop, Save, Cook curriculum reveals additional outcomes. California Agriculture, 70(2). https://doi.org/10.3733/ca.v070n02p83

School Nutrition and Healthy School Food

School-based interventions, the Shaping Healthy Choices Program, cafeteria environment changes, and policy, systems, and environmental work in schools.

  • Program Initiative One-Pager
  • This one-pager provides an overview of CalFresh Healthy Living, UC's (CFHL, UC) Healthy School Food initiative, including its background and evidence base, along with a brief description of how CFHL, UC staff brought these approaches to life in communities across California. This one-pagers offer a snapshot of the approaches, strategies, and work that contributed to CFHL, UC’s impact in advancing health and well-being throughout the state.
  • Peer-Reviewed Research

  • Bergman, J. J., Linnell, J. D., Scherr, R. E., Ginsburg, D. C., Brian, K. M., Carter, R., Donohue, S., Klisch, S., Lawry-Hall, S., Pressman, J., Soule, K. E., & Zidenberg-Cherr, S. (2018). Feasibility of implementing a school nutrition intervention that addresses policies, systems, and environment. Journal of Extension, 56(1). https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.56.01.22

    Klisch, S., & Soule, K. E. (2024). Schools as hubs of health: A comprehensive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education model for promoting wellness in low-income communities. Children, 11, 525. https://doi.org/10.3390/children11050525

    Linares, A., Hewawitharana, S. C., Plank, K., Rider, C. D., Woodward-Lopez, G., & Brown, M. W. (2025). Student and school characteristics modify the impact of SNAP-Ed on student dietary and physical activity outcomes. Public Health Nutrition, 28(1), 143. https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898002510092X

    Radtke, M., Gerdes, M., Jones, A., Keihner, A., MkNelly, B., Singh-Khaira, K., & Scherr, R. (2024). The Shaping Healthy Choices Program: Improving the impact through community partnerships. California Agriculture, 78(1). https://doi.org/10.3733/001c.94462

    Ruiz, L., Brian, K., & Scherr, R. (2020). Lessons learned: Implementing the Shaping Healthy Choices Program with teenagers as teachers. Journal of Youth Development, 15(5), Article 3. https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2020.761

    Scherr, R. E., Jones, A. M., Colorafi, R., Klisch, S., Linnell, J. D., & Soule, K. E. (2020). Assessing the effectiveness of an extender model partnership in implementing a multicomponent, school-based nutrition intervention. Health Promotion Practice, 22(6), 890–898. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524839920920305

    Scherr, R. E., Linnell, J. D., Dharmar, M., Beccarelli, L. M., Bergman, J. J., Briggs, M., Brian, K. M., Feenstra, G., Hillhouse, J. C., Keen, C. L., Ontai, L. L., Schaefer, S. E., Smith, M. H., Spezzano, T., Steinberg, F. M., Sutter, C., Young, H. M., & Zidenberg-Cherr, S. (2017). A multicomponent, school-based intervention, the Shaping Healthy Choices Program, improves nutrition-related outcomes. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 49(5), 368–379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2016.12.007

  • Conference Abstracts

  • Bergman, J., Linnell, J., Ginsburg, D., Scherr, R., Brian, K., Carter, R., Donohue, S., Hoyos, L., Klisch, S., Lawry-Hall, S., Martin, A., Pressman, J., Soule, K., West, W., & Zidenberg-Cherr, S. (2016). Adapting, implementing, and assessing the impact of the Shaping Healthy Choices Program through UC CalFresh partnerships [Conference abstract]. The FASEB Journal, 30(1 Suppl.), 897.1. https://doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.897.1

    Gerdes, M. A., Jones, A. M., Linnell, J. D., Bergman, J. J., Slattery, C., Ginsburg, D. C., Brian, K. M., Ganthavorn, C., Klisch, S., Lawry-Hall, S., Martin, A., Pressman, J. M., Soule, K. E., Srivastava, D., Scherr, R. E., & Zidenberg-Cherr, S. (2018). Progression through partnership: Adaptation of the Shaping Healthy Choices Program through partnership with UC CalFresh [Conference abstract]. Current Developments in Nutrition, 2(11), P18-028. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzy048

    Soule, K. E., & Klisch, S. (2016). Schools as hubs of health: A case study of comprehensive nutrition education program delivery [Conference abstract]. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 48(7S), S31. https://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(16)30195-6/pdf

Physical Activity

Campaigns and interventions promoting physical activity alongside fruit and vegetable intake, primarily with elementary-age students.

  • Program Initiative One-Pager
  • This one-pager provides an overview of CalFresh Healthy Living, UC's (CFHL, UC) Physical Activity initiative, including its background and evidence base, along with a brief description of how CFHL, UC staff brought these approaches to life in communities across California. This one-pagers offer a snapshot of the approaches, strategies, and work that contributed to CFHL, UC’s impact in advancing health and well-being throughout the state.
  • Peer-Reviewed Research

  • Keihner, A., Meigs, R., Sugerman, S., Backman, D., Garbolino, T., & Mitchell, P. (2011). The Power Play! Campaign’s School Idea & Resource Kits improve the determinants of fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity among fourth- and fifth-grade children. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 43(4 Suppl. 2), S122–S129. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21683281/

    Keihner, A., Mitchell, P. R., Kitzmann, C., Sugerman, S., & Foerster, S. B. (2009). Psychosocial, socioeconomic, behavioral, and environmental risk factors for BMI and overweight among 9- to 11-year-old children. Californian Journal of Health Promotion, 7(Special Issue: Obesity Prevention), 99–118. https://cjhp.scholasticahq.com/article/93379

    Keihner, A., Rosen, N., Wakimoto, P., Goldstein, L., Sugerman, S., Hudes, M., Ritchie, L., & McDevitt, K. (2017). Impact of California Children’s Power Play! campaign on fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity among fourth- and fifth-grade students. American Journal of Health Promotion, 31(3), 189–191. https://doi.org/10.4278/ajhp.141125-ARB-592 

Measurement and Evaluation Methods

Evaluation frameworks, survey instruments, and measurement tools for practitioners assessing their own programs.

  • Peer-Reviewed Research

  • Bailey, R. L., Seguin-Fowler, R., Stover, P. J., Scott-Pierce, M., Racine, E. F., Eicher-Miller, H. A., Penrod, N., & Fischer, B. L. (2025). Effectiveness evaluation of national nutrition education programmes must be a priority to safeguard nutrition security. Nature Food, 6(5), 419–422. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-025-01164-5

    Burke, M. P., Gleason, S., Singh, A., & Wilkin, M. K. (2022). Policy, systems, and environmental change strategies in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education (SNAP-Ed). Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 54(4), 320–326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2021.09.008 

    Jones, A., Keihner, A., Mills, M., MkNelly, B., Khaira, K., Pressman, J., & Scherr, R. (2021). Measuring skin carotenoids using reflection spectroscopy in a low-income school setting. Nutrients, 13, 3796. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8618146/

    Naja-Riese, A., Keller, K. J. M., Bruno, P., Foerster, S. B., Puma, J., Whetstone, L., MkNelly, B., Cullinen, K., Jacobs, L., & Sugerman, S. (2019). The SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework: Demonstrating the impact of a national framework for obesity prevention in low-income populations. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 9(5), 970–979. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibz115

    Neelon, M., Brian, K., Iaccopucci, A. M., Lewis, K. M., & Worker, S. M. (2017). Development of a health survey instrument for 5- to 8-year-old youths. Journal of Extension, 55(1), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.55.01.02

Whole and halved ripe avocado with pit

Search for More SNAP-Ed Research

For ongoing access to articles referencing SNAP-Ed, search "SNAP-Ed" in these journals.

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior

Journal of Trauma-Informed Community Health, Nutrition, and Physical Activity

Journal of Extension

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics