Amanda C. McClain, PhD, MS

Amanda C. McClain, PhD, MSAmanda C. McClain, PhD, MSAmanda C. McClain, PhD, MS

Amanda C. McClain, PhD, MS

Amanda C. McClain, PhD, MSAmanda C. McClain, PhD, MSAmanda C. McClain, PhD, MS

FARE Nutrition

FARE Nutrition FARE Nutrition FARE Nutrition

Food Access Research for Equity in Nutrition

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FARE Nutrition

FARE Nutrition FARE Nutrition FARE Nutrition

Food Access Research for Equity in Nutrition

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About Fare Nutrition

Overview

Our research employs community-based and social science perspectives to investigate how the stress of marginalization, especially food insecurity, shapes food choice and dietary intake and gets ‘under the skin’ to impact cardiometabolic risk and allostatic load among low-income and historically-marginalized populations, particularly Hispanics/Latinos. Simultaneously, our research aims to identify and leverage existing capacities (i.e., assets), as a part of behavior-change interventions embedded in existing infrastructure (e.g., federally-qualified health centers, food assistance programs), to mitigate the stress of marginalization and promote food security, nutritious diets, and cardiometabolic health equity.

Research and Community-Engaged Projects

What we do

Lay Audience Research Summaries

One-page reports

People

Who we are

Student Experience

How we collaborate

Media and Other Resources

How to learn more about our work

Current research and community-engaged projects

NIH NHLBI K01 Career Development Award

Capacity-oriented approaches to food security, diet quality, and cardiovascular disease risk among Hispanics/Latinos

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New York Regional Center for Diabetes Translational Research Pilot & Feasibility Award

The role of neighborhood and household food environments and food shopping behaviors in shaping diet quality and glucose metabolism among Hispanic/Latino youth and their caregivers

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USDA-Tufts 25 years of Food Security Measurement Award

Measuring food insecurity in Latinx families: expanding understanding of their experiences through exploratory interviewing and cognitive testing

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Food security among San Diego State University students

Exploring the causes and consequences of food insecurity, and strategies to mitigate food insecurity, among full-time undergraduates at an Hispanic, Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Island Serving Institution

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Project New Village

Grassroots, resident-led nonprofit improving fresh food access in Southeastern San Diego

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Our research team

Primary Investigator

Amanda C. McClain, PhD, MS

Associate Professor

San Diego State University

Bio and CV

Current Students and Researchers

Bios

Past Students and Researchers

Bios

Primary investigator

AMANDA C. MCCLAIN, PHD, MS

Dr. McClain earned her PhD in 2016 from the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University and then completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health before joining SDSU as faculty in 2018. 

Curriculum Vitae

current students and trainees

Kari Barajas, BS

Volunteer research assistant

Yesenia Ceja Zamorano, BS

Volunteer 

Ashley Diaz Mendez

Ashley Diaz Mendez

BS in Foods and Nutrition

Victoria Evans, BS

Ruth Grant-Williams, MS

Ashley Diaz Mendez

Volunteer

Ruth Grant-Williams, MS

Ruth Grant-Williams, MS

Ruth Grant-Williams, MS

Volunteer research assistant

Kelly Gray, BS

Ruth Grant-Williams, MS

Ruth Grant-Williams, MS

Volunteer

Celeste Lineiro

Claudia Lopez, BS

Claudia Lopez, BS

BS in Kinesiology

Claudia Lopez, BS

Claudia Lopez, BS

Claudia Lopez, BS

MS in Nutritional Sciences

Griselda Luna, MS

Claudia Lopez, BS

Griselda Luna, MS

Volunteer research assistant

Hailey Nelson, BS

Katy Rodriguez, BS

Griselda Luna, MS

Volunteer research assistant

Belen Ochoa

Katy Rodriguez, BS

Katy Rodriguez, BS

BS in Foods and Nutrition

Katy Rodriguez, BS

Katy Rodriguez, BS

Katy Rodriguez, BS

Concurrent MS in  Exercise Physiology, Nutritional Sciences 

Erika Romero, MPH

Volunteer/Research Specialist II

Past MPH mentee

past students and Trainees

Jillian Arizcuren, BS, RDN

Jillian Arizcuren, BS, RDN

Jillian Arizcuren, BS, RDN

Registered Dietitian, Kaiser Permanente

Lucia Canul, MS, RDN

Jillian Arizcuren, BS, RDN

Jillian Arizcuren, BS, RDN

PhD Candidate in SDSU-UCSD Public Health, Global Health

Robert Castro, MS

Jillian Arizcuren, BS, RDN

Robert Castro, MS

PhD Student in Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah

Cynthia Chow, MPH

Edgar Doolan, MS, RDN

Robert Castro, MS

Epidemiology Analyst, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

Edgar Doolan, MS, RDN

Edgar Doolan, MS, RDN

Edgar Doolan, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian, Rady Children's Hospital

Katia Enns, MS, RDN

Edgar Doolan, MS, RDN

Edgar Doolan, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian

Jonnatan Fajardo, MS, RDN

Jonnatan Fajardo, MS, RDN

Jonnatan Fajardo, MS, RDN

PhD Candidate in Nutritional Biology, UC Davis

Brianna Flores, BS

Jonnatan Fajardo, MS, RDN

Jonnatan Fajardo, MS, RDN

Student, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine Program

Pedro Guzman, MS, RDN

Jonnatan Fajardo, MS, RDN

Jacqueline Ibarra, MPH, RDN

Registered Dietitian, Community Medical Centers

Jacqueline Ibarra, MPH, RDN

Jacqueline Ibarra, MPH, RDN

Jacqueline Ibarra, MPH, RDN

Registered Dietitian, San Ysidro Health PACE program

Krisztina Kemenes, BS

Jacqueline Ibarra, MPH, RDN

Krisztina Kemenes, BS

MS student, Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University

Nyla McGlory, BS

Jacqueline Ibarra, MPH, RDN

Krisztina Kemenes, BS

Housing Specialist, Community Research Foundation

Andrea Meza, BS

Jayden Montejano, MS, RDN

Trisha Molina, MS, RDN

Student, Physician Assistant Program, University of Southern California

Trisha Molina, MS, RDN

Jayden Montejano, MS, RDN

Trisha Molina, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian

Jayden Montejano, MS, RDN

Jayden Montejano, MS, RDN

Jayden Montejano, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian, NationsBenefits

Lani Morales, MS, RDN

Courtney Smith, MS, RDN, CPT, CLC

Jayden Montejano, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian, Kaiser Permanente

Courtney Smith, MS, RDN, CPT, CLC

Courtney Smith, MS, RDN, CPT, CLC

Courtney Smith, MS, RDN, CPT, CLC

Registered Dietitian, Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health

Aurora Anaya

Petrona Gregorio-Pascual, MA

Lauryn Carter, MS

Lauryn Carter, MS

Petrona Gregorio-Pascual, MA

Lauryn Carter, MS

Petrona Gregorio-Pascual, MA

Petrona Gregorio-Pascual, MA

Petrona Gregorio-Pascual, MA

Iveth Lagunas, BS

Yazley Hernandez, BS, RD

Petrona Gregorio-Pascual, MA

Marian Marian, PhD, MS

Yazley Hernandez, BS, RD

Yazley Hernandez, BS, RD

Yazley Hernandez, BS, RD

Yazley Hernandez, BS, RD

Yazley Hernandez, BS, RD

Yesenia Jacobo, BS

Lauren Yowell, MS, RDN

Lauren Yowell, MS, RDN

Lauren Yowell, MS, RDN

Lauren Yowell, MS, RDN

Lauren Yowell, MS, RDN

Capacity-oriented approaches to food security & HEALTHY diet

San Diego Community Stakeholder Study

This qualitative study aims to understand the experiences and perspectives of key informants from diverse food- and nutrition-related stakeholder agencies regarding existing multi-level capacities to address food insecurity in San Diego County, CA.  We also explore COVID-19 pandemic-specific experiences of these agencies as well as their approaches to working with Hispanic/Latino communities.


Morales, L.*, Yowell, L.*, Molina, T.*, Smith, C.*, Arizcuren, J.*, McClain A.C.† (2023). Across-agency partnerships and within-agency capacities facilitate holistic, tailored approaches to addressing food insecurity: a qualitative study. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 123(12), 1749-1762.e2. DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2023.07.024


*student mentee, † senior author


Check out a summary of findings!


Smith, C.E.*, Enns, K.*, Molina, T.*, Doolan, E.*, & McClain, A.C. † (2025). “We didn’t turn away people”: perspectives of key informants at stakeholder agencies in San Diego County, CA in meeting the food insecurity demands during the COVID-19 pandemic. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 15(1), ibaf016. DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibaf016.


*student mentee, † senior author

Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

This cross-sectional quantitative study uses cohort data from the multi-site Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos to identify existing human, social, material, and cultural capital promoting food security, healthy diets, and favorable cardiometabolic risk profiles among U.S. Hispanic/Latino adults.

Intervention Development

We are currently conducting focus groups with Hispanic/Latino adult patients at San Ysidro Health to inform development of a capacity-oriented behavior change intervention. These focus groups were informed by our findings from the San Diego Community Stakeholder Study and the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.

Funding

National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute K01 Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award

food security, food environments, & food shopping behaviors

Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

This cross-sectional quantitative study employs latent class analysis of  data from caregivers and their children enrolled in the multi-site Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos . The goal is  to understand the roles of the perceived neighborhood food environment and food shopping behaviors in promoting food security, a healthy home food environment, healthy diet quality, and favorable glucose metabolism among Hispanic/Latino families .

 McClain, A.C., Castro, R.J.,*Helm, J.L., Isasi, C.R., Perreira, K.M., Mattei, J., Ayala, G.X., Mossavar-Rahmani, Y., Sotres-Alvarez, D., Daviglus, M., Van Horn, L., Talavera, G.A., & Gallo, L.C. (In press). Characterizing household food security status, perceived neighborhood food environment, and food shopping behaviors among caregivers of children in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Youth ancillary study (SOL-Youth). Health and Place. DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2025.103503.


*student mentee

Funding

 New York Regional Center for Diabetes Translation Research Pilot and Feasibility grant program

Food security 25: Proyecto Mesa

MESA: Mejorando la Esperanza en Seguridad Alimentaria

MESA: Mejorando la Esperanza en Seguridad Alimentaria

MESA: Mejorando la Esperanza en Seguridad Alimentaria

Project MESA, or  Improving Hope for Food Security, uses cognitive interviewing to understand how well items from the USDA 18-item Household Food Security Module reflect the experiences of Latino/a caregivers and how they understand, interpret, and perceive  the items and response options.

Funding

MESA: Mejorando la Esperanza en Seguridad Alimentaria

MESA: Mejorando la Esperanza en Seguridad Alimentaria

To mark the 25th anniversary of the U.S. household food security measurement, the USDA provided competitive grant funding to further food security measurement. Proyecto MESA was one of 6  projects selected for funding.

Publications

Media Coverage

Media Coverage

McClain, A.C., †† Johnson, C.M., ††DiRado-Owens, C., & Dickin, K.L. (In press). How do Latina/o/x parents interpret and respond to the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module? A qualitative cognitive interviewing study. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 


††shared first authorship



Media Coverage

Media Coverage

Media Coverage

The Conversation: "US food insecurity surveys aren’t getting accurate data regarding Latino families"


Cornell: "Are we tracking food insecurity correctly? Study takes a closer look"


Houston Chronicle: "Food insecurity surveys get inaccurate data on Latino families, report finds"


KQED Forum with Mina Kim: "More Californians struggling with food insecurity"



Food insecurity among sdsu students

Full-time undergraduate students

Using data from the National Collegiate Health Assessment III, we documented the association of food security status with psychological distress and loneliness among full-time undergraduate students.


  

Guzman, P.G.*,Lange, J.E., & McClain, A.C.†  (2022). The association between food security status and psychological distress and loneliness among full-time undergraduate students at a minority-serving institution. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(22), 15245.  DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192215245


*student mentee, † senior author

Division 1 student-athletes

Student athletes at a minority-serving institution, like SDSU, encounter unique challenges to maintaining food security. Using a cross-sectional survey, we aim to identify sociodemographic and personal determinants of food security status among Division 1 student-athletes.


  

Montejano, J.,*Twombly, A., Gombatto, S., McClain, A.C.† (In press). Determinants of food security status and perceived hunger affecting athletic performance among NCAA division I student-athletes at a minority-serving institution. Journal of American College Health. DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2025.2522729.


*student mentee, † senior author

Project new village

People's Produce Mobile Farmers' Market (PPMFM)

The PPMFM opened its doors in October 2022, increasing access to healthy food by bringing fresh produce from local farmers to communities across greater Southeastern San Diego. You can find the PPMFM at various sites each week.

Nutrition education at the PPMFM

Each semester,  Dr. McClain's students, including those enrolled in her NUTR 510: Community Nutrition course, provide nutrition education to customers at the PPMFM.

Backyard Gardener's Community of Practice

Through funding from a Danone Institute One Planet One Health Initiative Innovation Award, Project New Village was able to establish and sustain a residential food growers and farmers community of practice.

Lay Audience Research Summaries

San_Diego_Food_Security_Stakeholder_Findings_Flyer_Final (pdf)Download

the student experience

Student involvement and mentorship

My teaching and mentoring philosophy is grounded in the experiences I had growing up in a working-class household in a low-income neighborhood in Memphis, TN, a city disproportionally impacted by generations of unaddressed poverty and racism. For me, education was the key to escaping this cycle, while also preparing me to play an integral role in improving the lives of individuals from marginalized backgrounds and communities. Much like my research, I use a capacity-oriented approach with students in my classroom and on my research team  — I aim to guide and empower students to leverage their own existing assets and to work collectively as a team to complement each individual team member's assets in pursuit  of a common goal. Fundamental to the FARE Nutrition research team is the notion that having a positive impact on the health and well-being of our communities requires a complementary and committed community of people working together.

Our team in action

    Media and other resources

    Learn more about our work and the work of similar groups
    SDSU Research Horizons: Working to Reduce Food InsecuritySDSU 2019-2020 Research Highlights: Amanda C. McClainNBC 7 San Diego: Mobile Farmers' Market SDSU Center for Better Food Futures (BFF)SDSU Center for Communication, Health & the Public Good (CCHPG)

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    Curriculum Vitae

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