Food and Nutrition

Improving Health Outcomes

How do we help more people eat well and stay active, and how do we make those choices easier to access?

For more than three decades, Altarum has helped partners in more than 40 states and territories promote healthy lifestyles, improve nutrition and physical activity, and reduce the risk of preventable chronic disease.

Our team brings deep expertise in nutrition security, obesity, chronic disease prevention, physical activity, and federal food and nutrition programs.

We work directly with partners to assess needs, evaluate programs, build capacity, and turn evidence into action through research, strategic planning, technical assistance, communications, and data analysis. We support partners at every stage of their work, from design and implementation to evaluation and continuous improvement.

For example, our work with Partnership for a Healthier America helped build the evidence base for Good Food at Home, a program designed to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among lower-income families. Findings from our evaluations informed program design and expansion as the initiative evolved into a national produce incentive model.

Every project starts with the partner. We shape our approach around what they need, what they have to work with, and when they need it. Across all our work, our goal is the same: Advance health missions, equip our partners to act on what they learn, and help the people they serve live healthier lives. 

Explore our work below:

Our Food and Nutrition Expertise in Practice

A mother prepares a healthy green salad while her toddler snacks on fruit on the kitchen counter
Case Study

Evaluation of Summer Nutrition and SNAP Food Restriction Waiver in Iowa

Our work is generating evidence to inform nutrition assistance programming in Iowa.

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FOCUS AREAS: Food and Nutrition
A smiling dad, mom, and female child play basketball in a public park, enjoying physical activity together
Case Study

Demonstrating the Value of SNAP-Ed in Illinois

Through social marketing evaluation and economic modeling, Altarum assessed the behavioral and societal value of large-scale nutrition education efforts in Illinois.

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FOCUS AREAS: Food and Nutrition
A woman holding her child consulting with an employee.
Case Study

I Matter: Strengthening the WIC Workforce

Our support is helping to build a stronger WIC workforce through improved staffing models and training.

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FOCUS AREAS: Food and Nutrition
A child digs through a box full of fresh fruits and vegetables that have been delivered to his home.
Case Study

Building the Evidence Base for the Good Food at Home Program

With Altarum’s insight and expertise, Partnership for a Healthier America is developing new strategies to expand access to healthy foods for all.

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FOCUS AREAS: Food and Nutrition

News and Publications

News
April 21, 2026

Good Food at Home Indianapolis: A Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Model Comparing Brick-and-Mortar to Online Ordering

A new study evaluated strategies to increase fruit and vegetable intake by comparing traditional produce box programs with fruit and vegetable incentive models, including incentives redeemed at brick‑and‑mortar stores and through an online grocery platform.

News
January 30, 2026

Virginia Fresh Match Nutrition Incentive Program Sustains Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Despite Increased Food Insecurity after Emergency SNAP Benefit Cuts, New Study Finds

Cross‑sectional survey results show widespread benefit cuts and higher food insecurity, while access to Virginia Fresh Match helped households sustain fruit and vegetable intake.

News
December 11, 2025

The Effectiveness of Medical Nutrition Therapy in Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Disease: A Position Paper of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ latest position paper, The Effectiveness of Medical Nutrition Therapy in Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Disease, calls for universal access to medical nutrition therapy (MNT) from registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs). Evidence shows MNT improves outcomes for individuals with nutrition-related health conditions or risk factors.

News
November 06, 2025

New White Paper: Improving Childhood Nutrition in the U.S. Through Innovation and Efficiency

Altarum’s newly released Childhood Nutrition Journey Map 2025 offers a comprehensive overview of how children in the U.S. access nutritious food, identifies pain points, and proposes solutions to improve health outcomes from pregnancy through adolescence.

News
July 14, 2025

Rebecca Hagedorn-Hatfield Honored With 2025 SNEB Early Career Professional Achievement Award

Rebecca Hagedorn-Hatfield, PhD, RD, Food and Nutrition Evaluation Project Manager at Altarum, is the recipient of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior’s 2025 Early Career Professional Achievement Award.

News
January 04, 2024

New Research in Preventing Chronic Disease Evaluates Distribution Model to Increase Access to Affordable Fruits and Vegetables

The Altarum Food and Nutrition team examined the impact on fruit and vegetable intake of Good Food at Home program, with support by Partnership for a Healthier America.

Upcoming Events

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics logo.
Event
February 03 - February 03, 2026

Translating Nutrigenomics Into Practice: Opportunities, Limitations, and Ethical Considerations for RDNs

Altarum’s Mary Rozga will focus on the responsible integration of nutrigenomics within personalized nutrition care, emphasizing what is evidence based, what remains experimental and how to navigate the ethical complexities surrounding genetic data.

Altarum's work will be highlighted at SNEB 2025.
Event
January 28 - January 28, 2026

Smart Publishing: Using AI Ethically as an Author and Reviewer

Understanding how to use AI in academic publishing is increasingly important for nutrition educators, who often serve as both authors and peer reviewers. As AI tools become more common in writing and reviewing, educators need clear guidance on ethical use and journal policies.

Altarum's work will be highlighted at SNEB 2025.
Event
July 08 - July 11, 2025

Altarum to Present at 2025 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB) International Conference

Altarum’s work will take the stage at the 2025 SNEB International Conference with a presentation on the benefits and barriers of online grocery shopping using nutrition incentives.