On November 20, 2014, we recorded an interview with Allison Karpyn, associate director of UD’s Center for Research in Education and Social Policy, in UD’s School of Education, in the College of Education and Human Development.

We talked about the Center’s mission to “conduct rigorous research to help policymakers and practitioners in education, community health and human services determine which policies and programs are most promising to improve outcomes for children, youth, adults and families.” More specifically, we talked about their research in ways that consumers, stores, and manufacturers can be encouraged to make healthier food choices.

Allison talked with us about her work on a recent USDA report about providing incentives for consumers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to make healthier food choices, and on a milk “taste test” study to help guide practices marketing lower fat milk to adolescents and adults.

It was an interesting discussion of how to provide subtle cues to consumers, particularly those low income consumers enrolled in SNAP, to encourage their choosing healthier options without making them feel that their choices were being restricted. We also talked about ways that organizations can change to further encourage consumers’ making better nutritional choices.

Listen to the Interview

Prof. Allison Karpyn 29:23 28.2 MB

Video Clip 1:25 7.2 MB

Photo of Allison Karpyn by Kathy Atkinson.
Food photo by Sarah Tompkins