Making Healthy, Sustainable Diets Accessible and Achievable: A New Framework for Assessing the Nutrition, Environmental, and Equity Impacts of Packaged Foods.

There is a growing global consensus among food system experts that diets and how we source our foods must change. The sustainable nutrition community continues exploring the environmental impact and dietary value of foods. Packaged foods have been largely ignored within the dialogue, and if they are addressed, existing frameworks tend to label them all as "ultraprocessed" and uniformly discourage their consumption. This approach lacks the nuance needed to holistically evaluate packaged foods within recommended dietary patterns. Additionally, there is considerable diversity of opinion within the literature on these topics, especially on how best to improve nutrition security in populations most at risk of diet-related chronic disease. In support of addressing these challenges, 8 sustainability and nutrition experts were convened by Clif Bar & Company for a facilitated discussion on the urgent need to drive adoption of healthy, sustainable diets; the crucial role that certain packaged foods can play in helping make such diets achievable and accessible; and the need for actionable guidance around how to recommend and choose packaged foods that consider human, societal, and planetary health. This article summarizes the meeting discussion, which informed the development of a proposed framework based on guiding principles for defining sustainable, nutritious packaged foods across key nutrition, environmental, economic, and sociocultural well-being indicators. Although additional research is needed to substantiate specific metrics in order to operationalize the framework, it is intended to be a foundation from which to build and refine as science and measurement capabilities advance, and an important step toward broader adoption of healthy, sustainable diets.

Foods Distributed During Federal Disaster Relief Response in Puerto Rico After Hurricane María Did Not Fully Meet Federal Nutrition Recommendations.

BACKGROUND: Emergency foods distributed during a federal disaster relief response must follow the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans according to the 1990 National Nutrition Monitoring Related Research Act. Nutrition information about emergency foods for household distribution is scarce. METHODS: According to structured observation protocols, foods received daily at a federal distribution center in Puerto Rico after Hurricane María (November 10-25, 2017) were grouped into Dietary Guidelines for Americans ChooseMyPlate food groups. Data about their sodium, saturated fat, added sugar, and fiber content per serving were captured. Registered dietitians designed meal plans with the foods distributed. RESULTS: Of 107 unique food items, 41% were snacks and sweets; and 13%, 4%, 13%, and 7% were fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains, respectively. Fifty-eight percent of all foods were low in fiber (≤1 g); 46% included high amounts of sodium, saturated fats, or added sugars (≥20% daily value). The registered dietitians were able to design meal plans that complied with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans food group recommendations, but they exceeded upper daily limits for sodium, saturated fat, or added sugars. CONCLUSIONS: In view of projected increases in natural disasters and diet-related chronic diseases, DGA compliance must be improved so that federal emergency foods can support the health of survivors.

The effects of school garden experiences on middle school-aged students' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors associated with vegetable consumption.

This study describes the effects of garden-based education on children's vegetable consumption. As part of a pre-post panel study, 236 students complete the Garden Vegetable Frequency Questionnaire and 161 complete a taste test. Results indicate that school gardening may affect children's vegetable consumption, including improved recognition of, attitudes toward, preferences for, and willingness to taste vegetables. Gardening also increases the variety of vegetables eaten. Future research should explore whether effects persist over time and if and how changes in children's behavior affect the behavior of their caregivers. Implications of study findings for policy and practice are discussed. Suggestions for applying results to future health promotions are provided.