Community Nutrition Lab

The Community Nutrition Lab drives community-based initiatives promoting nutrition security among low-income groups, assessing, developing strategies, and evaluating programs for access to healthy foods and physical activity.

The Community Nutrition Lab conducts research to inform community-based Extension programs, initiatives, and practices aimed at promoting nutrition security among individuals with low incomes, including participants of SNAP and others eligible or participating in nutrition assistance programs. The Community Nutrition team utilizes interdisciplinary approaches and techniques to:

• Assess food and nutrition security status
• Identify potential strategies and tools to improve access to affordable, culturally-appropriate foods and safe physical activity opportunities through policy, systems, and environmental change initiatives, including behavioral economics
• Develop and test community-based educational programs aimed at promoting food resource management, food security, healthy eating, and physical activity
• Evaluate the reach and effectiveness of food, nutrition, and physical activity promotion programs, policies, and initiatives

Principal Investigator