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

Altarum, a mission-driven nonprofit, has released the Childhood Nutrition Journey Map 2025. Developed by our in-house team of experts, this white paper provides a clear, actionable overview of how children in the U.S. access nutritious food and related health supports, from pregnancy through adolescence. 

Despite decades of progress, many children and families still face obstacles to accessing healthy, affordable food. The journey map identifies key pain points, including complex enrollment processes, funding instability, and gaps in nutrition education, and shows how these challenges affect families at every stage of childhood. 

We’re focused on making programs simpler and more effective for families. The journey map proposes the establishment of the Nutrition and Essential Supports Transformation Center, designed to increase program efficiency across federal agencies and help communities find new ways to support healthy childhood nutrition. The plan emphasizes emerging partnerships, alternative support pathways, and rigorous research to guide improvements. 

“We want nutritious food to be the easy, affordable choice for every family,” says Max Entman, Altarum President and CEO. “By aligning federal, state, and local efforts, and educating about community-driven solutions, we can help children thrive and build healthier, more resilient communities.”

With decades of experience advising agencies on state and federal public health programs, Altarum brings deep expertise in designing and implementing solutions for populations with fewer financial resources. We use human-centered design and clear, evidence-based research to make sure our solutions are both practical and transformative.

The journey map calls for collaboration among federal agencies, local organizations, and private partners. By working together, stakeholders can address cross-cutting barriers, promote whole, nutrient-dense diets, and reform food policies to better serve children and families. Together, these efforts can lead to healthier kids, lower chronic disease risk, and stronger, more self-sufficient families.