Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health

Research & Practice


December 14, 2021

Washington state food assessment report: How the pandemic has affected food access

Close up of hands picking blueberries

New UW study commissioned by the Washington State Department of Agriculture shows the pandemic’s strain on Washington’s food access and food production systems. This DEOHS blog post highlights the team’s findings.


December 7, 2021

Survey of Washington state tribal communities illustrates how pandemic has exacerbated food disparities

Hands holding berries

Project finds barriers to traditional foods access and major disparities in food insecurity among Washington state tribal communities during the COVID-19 pandemic A recent survey of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) individuals sheds further light on the disparate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic among Washington State tribal communities. The project, the WA Tribal Food Survey (WATRIBAL),…


December 2, 2021

How a key nutritional program adapted to the pandemic

Photo of young family preparing meal

As the COVID-19 pandemic created economic hardship and food insecurity for many families, a key governmental program for nutritional support pivoted to offer remote services and more flexible food options. As a result, participation and satisfaction with the program grew, according to findings from a new study by University of Washington researchers and the program,…


June 27, 2021

For many King County families, food aid ‘not nearly enough’ as need spikes in pandemic

Photo of client at Auburn Food Bank

Food bank staff and public health officials predict it will take households several years to recover from food insecurity made worse by the economic instability of the pandemic. Ongoing research led by the UW Center for Public Health Nutrition in partnership with Washington State University and Tacoma Community College is highlighted.


May 11, 2021

Reliance on food assistance programs on the rise in Washington State

Food Insecurity and Food Assistance During COVID-19: Follow-up Survey of Wa State

Food insecurity remains high and disparities persist among Washington State households, while reliance on food assistance programs across the state have risen over the past six months, according to new data published by the University of Washington Center for Public Health Nutrition. The latest report from the WAFOOD research team compares data from two surveys,…


February 17, 2021

How the UW food pantry has adapted to rising food insecurity in the state

Sign saying Now Open UW Food Pantry

The Daily highlights how the UW Food Pantry is adapting to address food insecurity, and what UW Nutritional Sciences Program researchers involved in the WAFOOD survey have assessed thus far about state-wide food insecurity trends during the pandemic.


February 10, 2021

Michelle Obama is continuing her mission with a Netflix children’s show, ‘Waffles + Mochi’

Michelle Obama lunch program

Former first lady Michelle Obama to expand the work she started with her “Let’s Move” campaign which helps kids eat better and live healthy lives. A UW study published this year in JAMA by Nutritional Sciences Program researchers is noted. The study authors include senior study author Jessica Jones-Smith, Kelsey Kinderknecht, and Cristen Harris. The…


January 26, 2021

WAFOOD survey receives support from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation

UW & WSU Washington State Food Security Survey

Among the several non-profit organizations and programs receiving recent emergency funding from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the University of Washington Foundation has received a gift in support of the WAFOOD food insecurity survey. The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation has to date provided $12 million in emergency funding to provide relief to the…


January 25, 2021

New COVID-19 Grants to Boost Efforts Toward Economic and Social Relief

Food donation volunteers

Paul G. Allen Family Foundation announces $1.4 million in emergency funding focused on getting the state’s underserved populations the food, child care, and stability they need most during this time. The gift includes direct support to the collaborative research by UW, WSU, and Tacoma Community College on food access in Washington State due to COVID-19.


January 4, 2021

Homeless youths in Seattle receive most meals from shelters and drop-in centers

Youth on skateboard sitting on urban street

Over 75% of young adults experiencing homelessness in the greater Seattle area say they have enough food to eat, and most receive their weekly meals at shelters and drop-in centers, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the Academic of Nutrition and Dietetics.    The study, which surveyed 122 youths aged 14-22 years…



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