Dear Colleagues,

Over 1 in 5 children in the United States live in a food-insecure household. Policies and programs within educational settings play a critical role in health and educational outcomes, particularly for young populations experiencing racial and economic inequities. Multiple federally assisted child nutrition programs operating in educational settings aim to provide nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free meals to children across the US. However, significant gaps remain for achieving equity in nutrition security during youth and into early adulthood. This Special Issue welcomes research that documents the design, testing, evaluation, implementation and dissemination of programs and policies with an equitable approach to addressing food insecurity in education settings. Research can be focused in childcare, k-12 or college settings, but should highlight approaches to achiving nutritional equity. Drs. Moreland-Russell and Ferris have focused their research on nutritional equity in the United States and Missouri; nevertheless, submissions from diverse global geographies are encouraged. Dr. Ferris’s work has specifically highlighted the need for innovative service delivery approaches additional to policies that increase meal access. In addition, they have explored inequitable implementation of recent federal meal standard flexibilities resulting in lower quality food being served.

Dr. Sarah Moreland-Russell
Dr. Dan Ferris
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• food insecurity
• equity
• school food programs
• school food policy
• child and youth well-being
• school breakfast program
• national school lunch program