College Basic Needs Overview The Food Security Lab is partnering with numerous collaborators to identify and describe the relationship between food and nutrition security, mental health, and social health. Based on our research, we will then provide next steps and directions to support young adults food security and ultimately, development of positive health and nutrition behaviors. Through this research, we are spearheading 3 main initiatives: College Basic Needs Study This project aims to assess food insecurity in student populations and the impacts of such factors on mental and social health across 3 universities, of which include the University of Texas at Austin (TX), Old Dominion University (VA), and Santa Clara University (CA). Throughout this study, the research team will assess barriers to fresh, affordable groceries, impact of food insecurity on academic performance and mental health, accessibility to current, applicable resources, and will either support an increase in awareness of such resources or work to create viable resource options. Co-PI: Natalie Poulos, PhD, RD, Natalie Yarish, PhD, & Vanessa Errisuriz, PhD UT Outpost Food Consumption Study UT Outpost is the University of Texas at Austin’s largest on-campus Food Pantry. Our partnership with UT Outpost is vital as UT Outpost is a trusted community resource and allows our Lab to keep a finger on the pulse of food security needs in and around our UT Austin campus. The Food Consumption Study aims to assess the purchase and consumption patterns, as well as diet variety, of UT students who access UT Outpost services. Through this study, we hope to broader our understanding of what foods UT students are most often purchasing and consuming, and to determine if educational materials regarding ingredient nutrition and usability increase consumption and diet variety of students who use the food pantry. PI: Natalie Poulos, PhD, RD UT Austin Food Security Initiative In 2024, the Food Security Lab created the UT Austin Food Security Initiative. This group combines the expertise and efforts of three major campus organizations to foster collaboration and insight into food security on UT’s Austin campus. The organizations currently apart of this initiative include the Food Security Lab, UT Outpost, and the student government Food Security Agency. The Food Security Initiative hosts monthly meetings to discuss current and pending research, student and campus-wide FI needs, and overall opportunities for collaboration. We look forward to opening this initiative to a broader population in the near future, as well as host guest speakers to inspire areas for improvement and change regarding food policy of campus.
