Research

Implementing Innovative Telehealth Nutrition Interventions

Telehealth is a way to provide health-related services, such as nutrition education or counseling, remotely through computers, smartphones, or tablets. This can allow more flexibility and convenience for participants. Dr. Au has experience leading randomized trials comparing online nutrition education to in-person education on dietary outcomes in WIC.

Related Publications
  • Wilde P, Hennessy E, Wright C, Barnosky A, Au LE, Zhang Q, Khavjou O. Investment in Telehealth Is Associated with Cost Savings for Some WIC Nutrition Education and Breastfeeding Support Services. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2026 May 8:S1499-4046(26)00057-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2026.02.015. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42101411. [PubMed Link]
  • Au LE, Whaley SE, Hecht CA, Tsai MM, Anderson CE, Chaney AM, Vital N, Martinez CE, Ritchie LD. California WIC participants’ and local agency directors’ experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A qualitative examination. Journal of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2022.07.003. [PubMed link]
  • Au LE, Whaley S, Gurzo K, Meza M, Ritchie LD. If you build it they will come: Satisfaction of WIC participants with online and traditional in-person nutrition education, Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2016; 48:336-342. [PubMed link]
  • Au LE, Whaley S, Gurzo K, Rosen NJ, Meza M, Ritchie LD. Evaluation of online and in-person nutrition education related to salt knowledge and behaviors among WIC participants. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2017; 117(9):1384-1395. [PubMed link]
  • Au LE, Whaley S, Rosen NJ, Meza M, Ritchie LD. Online and in-person nutrition education improves breakfast knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors: a randomized trial of WIC participants. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2016; 116(3):490-500. [PubMed link]
Two smiling women, one in a teal cardigan and one in a lime top, stand by a research poster (photo)
Three conference attendees smiling in front of a large research poster in a convention hall

Infant and Child Diet Quality Assessment

Conclusive evidence points to the first 1,000 days – or the period from conception to 24 months – as critical for childhood obesity prevention. Healthy nutrition during the complementary feeding period, around 6-12 months of age, is critical for optimal growth and development. By 3-5 years of age, most children have established dietary habits that impact long-term weight and health. A better understanding of diet quality during the first year of life that contributes to healthy weight maintenance can inform intervention strategies to lower obesity and other chronic diseases. Dr. Au’s research examines how diet quality during the critical complementary feeding period during infancy is associated with risk for obesity in childhood, and her work critically evaluates infant dietary assessment methodologies, such as the infant diet quality index. Former lab members Citlalli Perez and Gayathri Pundi have published a scoping review on baby-led weaning, a complementary feeding method that promotes infant autonomy and self-regulation during the complementary feeding period.

Related Publications
  • Perez C, Stewart C, Pundi G, Au LE. Baby-Led Weaning: A Scoping Review Exploring Benefits and Risks in Comparison With Traditional Approaches to Complementary Feeding. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2026 Apr;126(4):156272. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2025.156272. Epub 2025 Dec 16. PMID: 41412225. [PubMed Link]
  • Au LE, Arnold CD, Ritchie LD, Lin SK, Frongillo EA. Differences in Infant Diet Quality Index by Race and Ethnicity Predict Differences in Later Diet Quality. J Nutr. 2023 Dec;153(12):3498-3505. doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.10.010. Epub 2023 Oct 18. PMID: 37858725; PMCID: PMC10843900. [PubMed Link]
  • Au LE, Arnold CD, Ritchie LD, Frongillo EA. The Infant Diet Quality Index Predicts Dietary and Adiposity Outcomes in US Children 2 to 4 years old. Journal of Nutrition, 2023; 153(3):741-748. [PubMed Link]
  • Thompson IJB, Ritchie LD, Bradshaw PT, Mujahid MS, Au LE. Earlier Introduction to Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Associated With Lower Diet Quality Among WIC Children at Age 3 Years. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2021 Nov;53(11):912-920. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2021.04.468. Epub 2021 Jul 3. PMID: 34229969. [PubMed Link]
  • Ritchie LD, Keeton V, Lee DL, Gurzo K, Homel Vitale E, Au LE, Alkon A. Nutrition Standards For Infants and Young Children can be Implemented by Family Child Care Home Providers. Glob Pediatr Health. 2021 Jan 25;8:2333794X21989555. doi: 10.1177/2333794X21989555. PMID: 33614841; PMCID: PMC7841240. [PubMed Link]
  • Ritchie LD, Lee DL, Vitale EH, Au LE. Transition from Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding to Toddler Nutrition in Child Care Settings. Nestle Nutr Inst Workshop Ser. 2020;95:54-66. doi: 10.1159/000511517. Epub 2020 Nov 9. PMID: 33166953. [PubMed Link]
Smiling woman in white cardigan standing by a research poster with charts at a conference
Woman presenting in classroom, slide with fruit illustration about complementary feeding
Five smiling young adults in a classroom holding certificates in front of a whiteboard
Five smiling adults standing under a covered patio with string lights and plants.

Improving Dietary Intake in Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs

Dr. Au’s research involves understanding how to promote healthier eating and prevent obesity through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the National School Lunch Program. Dr. Au’s overall goal is to provide evidence-based research to support strong nutrition policies for low-income populations. 

School Nutrition Related Publications
  • Tsai MM, Frongillo EA, Ritchie LD, Woodward-Lopez G, Au LE. Factor Analysis Reduces Complex Measures of Nutrition Environments in US Elementary and Middle Schools into Cohesive Dimensions in the Healthy Communities Study. J Nutr. 2021 May 11;151(5):1286-1293. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxaa450. PMID: 33693783; PMCID: PMC8243776. [PubMed Link]
  • Martinelli S, Acciai F, Au LE, Yedidia MJ, Ohri-Vachaspati P. Parental perceptions of the nutritional quality of school meals and student meal participation: Before and after the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2020; 52(11):1018-1025. [PubMed link]
  • Au LE, Ritchie LD, Gurzo K, Nhan LA, Woodward-Lopez G, Kao J, Guenther PM, Tsai M, Gosliner W. Post-Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act adherence to select school nutrition standards by region and poverty level: The Healthy Communities Study. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2020; 52(3):249-258. [PubMed link]
WIC Related Publications
  • Au LE, Thompson HR, Ritchie LD, Sun B, Zimmerman TP, Whaley SE, Reat A, Sankavaram K, Borger C. Longer WIC Participation Is Associated With Higher Diet Quality and Consumption of WIC-Eligible Foods Among Children 2-5 Years Old. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2025 Oct;125(10):1443-1457.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2024.11.012. Epub 2024 Nov 25. PMID: 39603593. [PubMed Link]
  • Au LE, Arnold CD, Domfe C, Ritchie LD, Whaley SE, Bitler M, Frongillo EA. Diet Quality and Weight Status are Predicted by Federal Nutrition Assistance Program Participation, Health, and Demographics. Curr Dev Nutr. 2025 Jul 9;9(8):107505. doi: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2025.107505. PMID: 40761945; PMCID: PMC12320653. [PubMed Link]
  • Chaney AM, Anderson CE, Arnold CD, Whaley SE, Ritchie LD, Pundi GR, Nguyen CJ, Au LE. Evaluating the Association of the Increase in the WIC Cash Value Benefit on the Diversity of MyPlate Fruits and Vegetables Redeemed and Consumed By Children in Low-Income Households. Curr Dev Nutr. 2024 May 16;8(6):103778. doi: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.103778. PMID: 38952351; PMCID: PMC11215201. [PubMed Link]
  • Tsai MM, Anderson CE, Whaley SE, Yepez CE, Ritchie LD, Au LE. Associations of Increased WIC Benefits for Fruits and Vegetables With Food Security and Satisfaction by Race and Ethnicity. Prev Chronic Dis. 2024 Mar 28;21:E19. doi: 10.5888/pcd21.230288. PMID: 38547021; PMCID: PMC10996387. [PubMed Link]
  • Whaley SE, Anderson CE, Tsai MM, Yepez CE, Ritchie LD, Au LE. Increased WIC Benefits for Fruits and Vegetables Increases Food Security and Satisfaction Among California Households with Young Children. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2023 Oct;123(10):1440-1448.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2023.05.018. Epub 2023 May 18. PMID: 37209964. [PubMed Link]
  • Anderson CE, Au LE, Yepez CE, Ritchie LD, Tsai MM, Whaley SE. Increased WIC Cash Value Benefit is Associated with Greater Amount and Diversity of Redeemed Fruits and Vegetables among Participating Households. Curr Dev Nutr. 2023 Aug 3;7(9):101986. doi: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.101986. PMID: 37662701; PMCID: PMC10469066. [PubMed Link]
  • Chaney AM, Ritchie LD, Whaley SE, Tsai MM, Randel-Schreiber HR, Yepez CE, Sabatier S, Young A, Meza M, Au LE. Racial and Ethnic Comparisons in Satisfaction with Services Provided by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children in California. Nutrients. 2023 Jan 14;15(2):447. doi: 10.3390/nu15020447. PMID: 36678318; PMCID: PMC9866005. [PubMed Link]
Conference presenter speaking beside large projected slide in small hotel meeting room.
Two smiling women standing beside a large research poster in a conference hallway
Presenter at a podium in conference room with UC Davis banner and colorful projected slide
Two women in black dresses smiling beside a lit research poster at an outdoor evening event
Group photo of seven smiling adults standing on grass under trees and blue sky

Examining the Relationship Between Food Insecurity, Obesity, and Other Chronic Diseases

Dr. Au examines dietary intake, including food insecurity, obesity, and cardiometabolic outcomes in racially and ethnically diverse populations. This body of work focused on understanding disparities in childhood obesity or related outcomes.

Related Publications
  • Zuercher MD, Harvey DJ, Au LE, Shadyab AH, Santiago-Torres M, Liu S, Shivappa N, Hébert JR, Robbins JA, Garcia L. Energy-Adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index and Diabetes Risk in Postmenopausal Hispanic Women. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2024 Nov;124(11):1431-1439. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2023.08.002. Epub 2023 Aug 5. PMID: 37544374; PMCID: PMC10839112. [PubMed Link]
  • Navarro S, Tsai M, Ritchie LD, Frongillo EA, Laraia BA, Pate RR, Au LE. Household food insecurity and children’s physical activity and sedentary behavior: The Healthy Communities Study. Public Health Nutrition, 2022; 25(2): 381-388. [PubMed link]
  • Moffat L, Ritchie LD, Gosliner W, Plank K, Au LE. Perceived produce availability and child fruit and vegetable intake: The Healthy Communities Study. Nutrients, 2021; 13(11):3681. [PubMed link]
  • Tan ML, Laraia B, Madsen KA, Au LE, Frongillo EA, Ritchie LD. Child food insecurity is associated with energy intake among fourth and fifth grade girls. Journal of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2019; 119(10):1722-1731 [PubMed link]
  • Au LE, Zhu SM, Nhan LA, Plank KR, Frongillo EA, Laraia BA, Gurzo K, Ritchie LD. Household food insecurity is positively associated with higher adiposity among U.S. schoolchildren ages 10-15 years: The Healthy Communities Study. Journal of Nutrition, 2019; 149(9):1642-1650. [PubMed link]

 

Two women smiling by a tall window with cloudy city skyline, wearing conference badges
Presenter in classroom standing beside colorful projected slide about a village food pool

Technological Dietary Assessment

Led by graduate student Christabel Domfe, Dr. Au's lab is currently piloting and testing a novel Artificial-Intelligence based dietary assessment mobile application called the Plant Village Food App. The purpose of the application is to drive dietary behavior change in college students through nutrient tracking and gamified nudging. Through this research, Dr. Au is investigating the efficacy of technology-based dietary interventions in college settings. 

Two women at a cafeteria table with plates of food; one checking her phone.

For a full list of publications by Dr. Au, please click here