Marlene Schwartz

Professor, Human Development and Family Sciences

Primary Research Theme

Healthy Cities

Secondary Research Themes

Social-Ecological Systems

Research Interests

Dr. Schwartz has studied school wellness policies and the charitable food system in urban settings.  Her work in New Haven, CT found that when schools implemented the nutritional components of wellness policies, the students demonstrated a healthier BMI trajectory between 5th and 8th grade than students in schools that did not focus on nutrition (Ickovics JK et al. AJPM. 2018). In Hartford, she has studied the implementation of a nutrition ranking system called SWAP (Supporting Wellness at Pantries) to help food insecure clients more easily identify and select healthier options. She is currently involved in several projects locally and nationally to promote better nutrition thought food banks and pantries (Schwartz M &  Seligman H. JHEN, 2019).

Recent Cities-related Projects

  • Supporting Wellness at Pantries: This is a collaborative project with Foodshare that involves improving the nutritional quality of food at food pantries in greater Hartford.

Selected Urban-Related Publications

Schwartz M, Seligman H.   The Unrealized Health Promoting Potential of a National Network of

Cohen J, Schwartz M.   Documented Success and Future Potential of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.   Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.   2020   January   1-4

Boehm R, Read M, Henderson K, Schwartz M.   Removing competitive foods v. nudging and marketing school meals: a pilot study in high school cafeterias.   Public Health Nutrition.   2020   February   23:2:1-8

Asada Y, Hughes A, Read M, Schwartz M, Schermbeck R, Turner L, Chriqui J.   “On a Positive Path”: School Superintendents’ Perceptions of and Experiences With Local School Wellness Policy Implementation and Evaluation.   Health Promotion Practice.   2020   March   1-10

Food Pantries.   Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition.   2019   January   14:1-2:1-3

Fernandes C, Schwartz M, Ickovics J, Basch C.   Educator Perspectives: Selected Barriers to Implementation of School-Level Nutrition Policies.   Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.   2019   January   1-7

Stein E, Cooksey-Stowers K, McCabe M, White M, Schwartz M.   Ingredient bundles and recipe tastings in food pantries: a pilot study to increase the selection of healthy foods.   Public Health Nutrition.   2019   March   1-6

McKee S, Cooksey-Stowers K, St. Louis R, Schwartz M.   Understanding the process of implementing nutrition and physical activity policies in a large national child care organization: a mixed-methods study.   Translational Behavioral Medicine.   2019   April   1-11

Turner L, Leider J, Piekarz-Porter E, Schwartz M, Merlo C, Brener N, Chriqui J.   State Laws Are Associated with School Lunch Duration and Promotion Practices.   Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.   2018   February   455-463

Taber D, Dulin-Keita A, Fallon M, Chaloupka F, Andreyeva T, Schwartz M, Harris J.   Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) position statement: Enact taxes on sugar sweetened beverages to prevent chronic disease.   Translational Behavioral Medicine.   2018   April   1-5

Loeb K, Radnitz C, Keller K, Schwartz M, Zucker N, Marcus S, Pierson R, Shannon M, DeLaurentis D.   The Application of Optimal Defaults to Improve Elementary School Lunch Selections: Proof of Concept.   Journal of School Health.   2018   April   Vol. 88, No. 4:265-271

“Radnitz C, Loeb K, Keller K, Boutelle K , Schwartz M, Todd L, Marcus S.   Effect of default menus on food selection and consumption in a college dining hall simulation study.   Public Health Nutrition.   2018   May   7:1359–1369

Martin K, Wolff M, Callahan K, Schwartz M.   Supporting Wellness at Pantries: Development of a Nutrition Stoplight System for Food Banks and Food Pantries.   Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.   2018   May   1-7

Foster J, Schwartz M, Grenier R, Burke M, Taylor E, Mobley A.   A qualitative investigation into the U.S. Department of Agriculture 18-item Household Food Security Survey Module: Variations in interpretation, understanding and report by gender.   Journal of Public Affairs.   2018   August

Boehm R, Read M, Schwartz M.   Juice Displaces Milk and Fruit in High School Lunches.   Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.   2018   September   1-6

Cooksey-Stowers K, Martin K, Schwartz M.   Client Preferences for Nutrition Interventions in Food Pantries.   Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition.   2018   September   1-18

Cooksey-Stowers K, Read M, Wolff M, Martin K, McCabe M, Schwartz M.   Food Pantry Staff Attitudes about Using a Nutrition Rating System to Guide Client Choice.   Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition.   2018   September   1-16

Ickovics J, O’Connor-Duffany K, Shebl F, Peters S, Read M, Gilstad-Hayden K, Schwartz M.   Implementing School-Based Policies to Prevent Obesity: Cluster Randomized Trial.   American Journal of Preventive Medicine.   2018   December   e1 – e11

Schwartz M.   Moving Beyond the Debate Over Restricting Sugary Drinks in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.   American Journal of Preventive Medicine.   2017   January   199-205

Loeb K, Radnitz C, Keller K, Schwartz M, Marcus S, Pierson R, Shannon M, DeLaurentis D.   The application of defaults to optimize parents’ health-based choices for children.   Appetite.   2017   February   113:368-375

”  Schwartz M, Schneider G, Choi Y, Li X, Harris J, Andreyeva T, Hyary M, Highsmith Vernick N, Appel L.   Association of a Community Campaign for Better Beverage Choices With Beverage Purchases From Supermarkets.   JAMA Internal Medicine.   2017   March   E1-E9

Schwartz M, Just D, Chriqui J, Ammerman A.   Appetite Self-Regulation: Environmental and Policy Influences on Eating Behaviors.   Obesity.   2017   March   Vol 25:S26-S38

Schwartz M, Henderson K, Read M, Cornelius T.   Student Acceptance of Plain Milk Increases Significantly 2 Years after Flavored Milk Is Removed from School Cafeterias: An Observational Study.   Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.   2017   July   1-8

Asada Y, Hughes A, Read M, Schwartz M, Chriqui J.   High School Students’ Recommendations to Improve School Food Environments: Insights From a Critical Stakeholder Group.   Journal of School Health.   2017   November   Vol. 87, No. 11:842-849

Cooksey-Stowers K, Schwartz M, Brownell K.   Food Swamps Predict Obesity Rates Better Than Food Deserts in the United States.   International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.   2017   November   1-20

Wang S, Schwartz M, Read M, Henderson K.   School breakfast and body mass index: a longitudinal observational study of middle school students.   Pediatric Obesity.   2016   March   1-8

Harris J, Hyary M, Schwartz M.   Effects of Offering Look-Alike Products as Smart Snacks in Schools.   Childhood Obesity.   2016   August   Vol. X, No. X:1-8

Schwartz M.   Incentive and Restriction in Combination—Make Food Assistance Healthier With Carrots and Sticks.   JAMA Internal Medicine.   2016   September   1-2

Wang S, Schwartz M, Read M, Henderson K.   School breakfast and body mass index: a longitudinal observational study of middle school students.   Pediatric Obesity.   2016   March   1-8

Harris J, Hyary M, Schwartz M.   Effects of Offering Look-Alike Products as Smart Snacks in Schools.   Childhood Obesity.   2016   August   Vol. X, No. X:1-8

Schwartz M.   Incentive and Restriction in Combination—Make Food Assistance Healthier With Carrots and Sticks.   JAMA Internal Medicine.   2016   September   1-2

“Henderson K, Grode G, O’Connell M, Schwartz M.   Environmental factors associated with physical activity in childcare centers.   International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.   2015   March   12:43:1-9

Schwartz M, Henderson K, Read M, Danna N, Ickovics J.   New School Meal Regulations Increase Fruit Consumption and Do Not Increase Total Plate Waste.   Childhood Obesity.   2015   March   1-6

Schwartz D, Gilstad-Hayden K, Carroll-Scott A, Grilo S, McCaslin C, Schwartz M, Ickovics J.   Energy Drinks and Youth Self-Reported Hyperactivity/Inattention Symptoms.   Academic Pediatrics.   2015   May   15,3:297-304

Andreyeva T, Tripp A, Schwartz M.   Dietary Quality of Americans by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Status.   American Journal of Preventive Medicine.   2015   September   594-604

Schwartz M, O’Connell M, Henderson K, Middleton A, Scarmo S.   Testing Variations on Family-Style Feeding To Increase Whole Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Preschoolers in Child Care.   Childhood Obesity.   2015   October   Vol 11, No 5:499-505

“Schwartz M, Henderson K, Grode G, Hyary M, Kenney E, O’Connell M, Middleton A.   Comparing Current Practice to Recommendations for the Child and Adult Care Food Program.   Childhood Obesity.   2015   October   Vol 5, No 5:491-498