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Food and Nutrition
When food insecurity or insufficient knowledge about healthy eating threaten Americans’ health, Westat’s pioneering methodology supports our clients’ nutrition assistance programs, ensuring individuals’ access to affordable, nutritious food; consumption of healthier diets; and receipt of entitled benefits without compromising effective public fund management.
Overview
Ensuring consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, and affordable foods is critical to the health and well-being of Americans. Westat’s food and nutrition research studies provide the evidence base for the nation’s nutrition assistance programs and policies to effectively serve those in need while ensuring the proper stewardship of tax dollars. Our staff specialize in program evaluation, data collection, statistical analysis, and program support for federal, state, and local partners.
Our Expertise
Dietary Assessment
Westat is a pioneer in dietary assessment methodology and develops innovative methods for collecting, coding, and analyzing food and nutrient data. We have expertise in household food purchases, 24-hour dietary intakes, and foods and meals provided through nutrition assistance programs. Our research has examined the role of nutrition assistance programs in participants’ diets and whether the programs help Americans consume healthier diets. Our staff also work with USDA partners to develop novel food and nutrient databases that can be used to evaluate what foods Americans purchase and consume.
Food Security
Westat conducts research to assess whether children and low-income families have access to food and a healthful diet and the role of nutrition assistance programs in reducing food insecurity. Our research also examines innovative strategies to improve access to affordable, healthy foods and ultimately reduce hunger.
Program Operations and Integrity
Westat’s work provides insight on the operations and characteristics of nutrition assistance programs and their participants to inform policy decisions and resources, training, and technical assistance to support effective program administration. Many of our projects help ensure individuals receive the benefits they are entitled to and federal and state agencies administering the programs are effective stewards of public funds.
Experts
Meet the Team
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David C. Wittenburg
Vice President & Practice Director, Social Policy & Economics Research
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Andrea García
Principal Associate
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Anne Peterson
Vice President
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Betsy Thorn
Associate Vice President
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Brian Jones
Principal Research Associate
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Carla Bozzolo
Principal Research Associate
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Catherine Benvie
Senior Associate
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Christine Borger
Principal Research Associate
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Claire Wilson
Principal Research Associate
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Courtenay Kessler
Senior Research Associate
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Debra Wright
Associate Vice President
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Elizabeth Weber
Associate Vice President
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Hilary Wagner
Senior Associate
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Jacob Beckerman-Hsu
Senior Associate
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Jonathan Blitstein
Principal Associate
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Kathy Wroblewska
Senior Associate
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Kelsey Gray
Associate Vice President
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Lila Gutuskey
Principal Research Associate
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Lindsay J. Giesen
Principal Research Associate
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Maeve E. Gearing
Principal Research Associate
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Marietta Bowman
Principal Research Associate
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Mary Gabay
Principal Research Associate
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Michael Ribar
Principal Associate
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Miles Patrie
Principal Associate
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Stacy Gleason
Associate Vice President
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Thea Palmer Zimmerman
Principal Research Associate
Projects
Keep Reading
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Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
How do we improve SNAP-Ed data? -
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
Can systems science improve dietary guidelines? -
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
What is the ROI from integrating nutrition incentive programs into EBT?
Insights
Deep Dive with Our Experts
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Perspective
Westat Work Shines at 2024 APHSA EMWB ConferenceSeptember 2024
Westat human services experts recently presented at the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA)’s Economic Mobility and Well-Being (EMWB) Conference in Portland, Oregon. At the…
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Expert Interview
Leveraging WIC EBT Data for In-Depth Program AnalysisApril 2024
Since its founding 50 years ago, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has been a critically needed source of food…
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Issue Brief
Young Children’s Consumption of 100% Fruit Juice by Racial-Ethnic Characteristics of Their MothersMarch 2023
Congress authorized the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) as a pilot program in 1972 and made WIC permanent in 1974.…