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Nevada SNAP-Ed Project Helps Teach Families About Reducing Kids’ Sugar Intake

Nevada SNAP-Ed Project Helps Teach Families About Reducing Kids’ Sugar Intake

by | Mar 2, 2022 | Econometrica Blog

Kids Drinking Soda

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, consuming too much sugar can increase the risk for health issues such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. For many children, a single can of soda contains more than their daily recommended amount of sugar, yet nearly two-thirds of kids in the United States drink soda or another sugary drink each day.

In response to this issue, the University of Nevada, Reno, started the Rethink Your Drink Nevada project to “promote healthy beverage choices and reduce the intake of sugary drinks.” Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) grant program, Rethink Your Drink has created a range of resources, from brochures to healthy recipes, to teach families about the risks associated with consuming too much sugar and empower them to make healthier choices.

In addition, Rethink Your Drink also provides dental and medical offices with a free toolkit of resources they can use to help educate patients and their families about this issue. The toolkit, which contains posters, handouts, and stickers in both English and Spanish, was distributed to more than 600 healthcare professionals in more than 200 offices in 2020 alone, and offices have continued to receive new materials regularly.

This outreach program has already begun to show success: According to USDA, “survey results show that use of the toolkit leads to more patient education on sugary drinks,” with 65 percent of SNAP households reporting that a medical or dental professional had talked with them or their child about sugary drinks.

To learn more about Rethink Your Drink Nevada, visit the program’s website at https://rethinkyourdrinknevada.com/.

To read about other successful SNAP-Ed projects, visit USDA’s website at https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/success-stories.

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Econometrica specializes in research and management across numerous industries in both the public and private sectors. We are always looking to hire the best and brightest in data science, health, grants management, energy, homeland security, housing and community development, capital markets and finance, and transportation. We work as the lead service provider, and also as a capable outsource partner to other consultancies. To work with us on your next project, visit us online and email a member of our executive staff in your preferred specialty. To explore the benefits of working for us, visit our careers page.

ECONOMETRICA BLOG

A Fresh New Year

by | Jan 13, 2022 | Econometrica Blog

Health Diet

As we ring in the new year, many of us are thinking about how we would like to better ourselves in 2022—and at the top of many people’s lists is a happier, healthier lifestyle. Better physical fitness, healthier diets, and weight loss frequently top surveys asking Americans about their New Year’s resolutions, and 2022 is no different. But getting started can be daunting, especially for those who may not have had access to a variety of fresh produce in the past (or for picky eaters looking to branch out to something new!).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) Connection website is a great resource for anyone searching for guidance on the fruits and vegetables available throughout the winter months. In addition to their Seasonal Produce Guide, SNAP-Ed provides easy-to-make, nutritional Every Day and Seasonal Recipes. These recipes range from smoothies and salads in summer to warm stews and pot pies to chase away the winter cold. With these resources at hand, starting 2022 off on the right foot will be a snap.

More information about SNAP-Ed can be found on the main web page, located at https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/.

Work With Us, Work for Us

Econometrica specializes in research and management across numerous industries in both the public and private sectors. We are always looking to hire the best and brightest in data science, health, grants management, energy, homeland security, housing and community development, capital markets and finance, and transportation. We work as the lead service provider, and also as a capable outsource partner to other consultancies. To work with us on your next project, visit us online and email a member of our executive staff in your preferred specialty. To explore the benefits of working for us, visit our careers page.

ECONOMETRICA BLOG
The Econometrica Team Closes out a Successful First Option Year and Looks Ahead to Another Exciting Year

The Econometrica Team Closes out a Successful First Option Year and Looks Ahead to Another Exciting Year

by | Dec 17, 2021 | News

USDA FNS Infographics

Econometrica conducted a mixed-methods evaluation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Pilot Project for the Procurement of Unprocessed Fruits and Vegetables. In this Pilot project, participating States and school food authorities used their USDA Foods National School Lunch Program entitlement funds to procure unprocessed fruits and vegetables for school meals from any USDA Pilot-authorized vendor.

Econometrica used administrative data and data from interviews with State Distributing Agency officials to describe the fruits and vegetables purchased and States’ experiences with the Pilot. Econometrica also compared Pilot purchase data to USDA Foods and USDA Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (USDA DoD Fresh) data to better understand how States used the Pilot.

USDA selected the following eight States for the Pilot: California, Connecticut, Michigan, New York, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The key findings of the Evaluation of Pilot Project for Procurement of Unprocessed Fruits and Vegetables are published on the USDA’s website.

In addition to the report, Econometrica also created downloadable infographics with data from each Pilot State.

Work With Us, Work for Us

Econometrica specializes in research and management across numerous industries in both the public and private sectors. We are always looking to hire the best and brightest in data science, health, grants management, energy, homeland security, housing and community development, capital markets and finance, and transportation. We work as the lead service provider, and also as a capable outsource partner to other consultancies. To work with us on your next project, visit us online and email a member of our executive staff in your preferred specialty. To explore the benefits of working for us, visit our careers page.

LATEST NEWS
The Econometrica Team closes out a successful first option year and looks ahead to another exciting year.

The Econometrica Team closes out a successful first option year and looks ahead to another exciting year.

by | Oct 23, 2018 | Press Release

Data to Action graphic

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), has awarded the Econometrica Team a second option year on the USDA Foods Trend Analysis project that will run through September 2019. This study examines the types and amounts of food ordered through USDA Foods and USDA U.S. Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (USDA DoD Fresh) under the National School Lunch Program.

During the first option year, the Econometrica Team conducted comprehensive descriptive analyses of the types of products ordered and order patterns through USDA Foods and USDA DoD Fresh at the national and State levels for school years (SYs) 2014–2015, 2015–2016, and 2016–2017. This work involved cleaning and assembling program administrative data, conducting analysis using SAS and Tableau, and producing a report on the findings. We developed infographics on ordering patterns for FNS program marketing and information dissemination purposes. In addition, the team developed an interactive Tableau-based dashboard for FNS and States to use in program monitoring. The dashboard contains detailed information on multiple data points that we analyzed over the course of this contract.

In the second option year, the project is expanding to include two additional years of order data (SYs 2013–2014 and 2017–2018). The project includes new analysis of USDA Foods processor inventory levels over the course of the school year to inform FNS about patterns in processor compliance with program inventory limits. We will also develop new infographics and update the Tableau dashboard with the new data. Congratulations to all on the win!

Work With Us, Work for Us

Econometrica specializes in research and management across numerous industries in both the public and private sectors. We are always looking to hire the best and brightest in data science, health, grants management, energy, homeland security, housing and community development, capital markets and finance, and transportation. We work as the lead service provider, and also as a capable outsource partner to other consultancies. To work with us on your next project, visit us online and email a member of our executive staff in your preferred specialty. To explore the benefits of working for us, visit our careers page.

LATEST NEWS
Econometrica Wins Option Year 2 of USDA Foods Trend Analysis Project

Econometrica Wins Option Year 2 of USDA Foods Trend Analysis Project

by | Oct 19, 2018 | 2018, Press Release

HealthyLunchThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), has awarded the Econometrica Team a second option year on the USDA Foods Trend Analysis project that will run through September 2019. This study examines the types and amounts of food ordered through USDA Foods and USDA U.S. Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (USDA DoD Fresh) under the National School Lunch Program.

During the first option year, the Econometrica Team conducted comprehensive descriptive analyses of the types of products ordered and order patterns through USDA Foods and USDA DoD Fresh at the national and State levels for school years (SYs) 2014–2015, 2015–2016, and 2016–2017. This work involved cleaning and assembling program administrative data, conducting analysis using SAS and Tableau, and producing a report on the findings. We developed infographics on ordering patterns for FNS program marketing and information dissemination purposes. In addition, the team developed an interactive Tableau-based dashboard for FNS and States to use in program monitoring. The dashboard contains detailed information on multiple data points that we analyzed over the course of this contract.

In the second option year, the project is expanding to include two additional years of order data (SYs 2013–2014 and 2017–2018). The project includes new analysis of USDA Foods processor inventory levels over the course of the school year to inform FNS about patterns in processor compliance with program inventory limits. We will also develop new infographics and update the Tableau dashboard with the new data. Congratulations to all on the win!

About Econometrica:

Founded in 1998, Econometrica is a research and management organization in Bethesda, MD, established to provide public- and private-sector clients with customized program support services. Econometrica works with multiple agencies to provide high-quality, cost-effective analyses, modeling, and economic evaluations. The company consistently receives exceptional scores from its clients and believes in three principles: technical capabilities, happy customers, and business development.

LATEST NEWS

Econometrica developed infographics on ordering patterns for FNS program marketing and information dissemination purposes.