College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS) minor and specialization

Degrees

PhD, Community Nutrition (minor fields: Epidemiology and Government/Ethics), Cornell University, 2000
MS, Community Nutrition, Cornell University, 1997
BS with Honors, Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, 1991

Professional Positions

Postdoctoral Community Health Scholar, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 2000-2002
Assistant Research Scientist, Health Behavior and Health Education; Associate Evaluation Director, Prevention Research Center of Michigan, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 2002-2003
Nutritionist, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1991-1996

Research and Outreach Interests

Dr. Alaimo is a nutritional epidemiologist and community-based participatory researcher with interests in food justice, community food security, urban agriculture and gardening, policy and environmental supports for promoting pro-environmental behaviors, healthy eating and physical activity, and school nutrition and health.

Instructional Activities

HNF 150 – Introduction to Human Nutrition
HNF 824 – Nutrition Policies & Programs
CSS 824 – Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Field Practicum
CSS 826 – Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Capstone Seminar
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems minor and specialization

Books and Websites

Community Activation for Prevention Study: A randomized controlled trial of community gardening

Keep Growing Detroit Storytelling Project

Alaimo K, Chilton M, Jones A. Food Insecurity and Hunger. In Present Knowledge in Nutrition, 11^th Edition, Volume 2: Clinical and Applied Topics in Nutrition, International Life Sciences Institute, 2020

Alaimo K, Bassett E, Wilkerson R, Petersmarck K, Mendez D, Mosack J. Michigan Promoting Active Communities Program: Online Assessment Tool and Award System, a program of the Michigan Fitness Foundation, Launched 2006. https://www.activecommunitytool.org/

Alaimo K, Bassett E, Wilkerson R, Smiley M, Warbach J, Hines A, Guzmán L, Krup C, Mosack J, and Petersmarck K. Design Guidelines For Active Michigan Communities: Imagining, Creating, and Improving Communities for Physical Activity, Active Living, and Recreation. Lansing, MI: Michigan Department of Community Health. 98 pages. May 2006.

Alaimo K and Hassler D, eds.  From Seeds to Stories:  The Community Garden Storytelling Project of Flint.  Flint Urban Gardening and Land Use Corporation and Prevention Research Center of Michigan.  83 pages. April 2003.

Selected Journal Articles

You can view Dr. Alaimo's full publication list on her Google Scholar page. 

Drzal, N, Kerver J, Strakovsky RS, Weatherspoon L, Alaimo K. Barriers and facilitators to healthy eating among young adult college students, Nutrition Research, 2025; 133:161-71.

Beavers A, Ray B, Lacy KM, Coringrato E, Kelly Z, Villalobos A, Buchenau H, Decker E, Fahnestock L, Quist P, Sachs A, Buchenau M, Hebért JR, Litt J, Alaimo K. Supporting new community gardeners: Perspectives of gardeners and garden leaders. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 2024;14(1):1-18.

Alaimo K, Coringrato E, Lacy KM, Hebért JR, Beavers AW. Caretaking, accomplishment, and connection to nature: The “gardening triad” and its role in new community gardeners’ engagement, and social and emotional wellbeing. People and Nature, 2024;6(5):2014-2028.

Bu S, Beavers AW, Sugino KY, Keller S, Alaimo K, Comstock SS. Influence of compost amendments on soil and human gastrointestinal bacterial communities during a single gardening season. Microorganisms, 2024;12(5):928

Coringrato E, Alaimo K, Leiferman JA, Villalobos A, Buchenau H, Decker E, Fahnestock L, Quist P, Litt JS. A process evaluation of a randomized-controlled trial of community gardening to improve health behaviors and reduce stress and anxiety. Scientific Reports. 2024;12(1):13620.

Kingsley J, Donati K, Litt JS, Shimpo N, Blythe C, Vávra J, Caputo S, Milbourne P, Diekmann LO, Rose N, Fox-Kämper R, van den Berg A, Metson GS, Ossola A, Feng X, Astell-Burt T, Baker A, Lin BB, Egerer MH, Marsh P, Pettitt P, Scott TL, Alaimo K, Neale K, Glover T, & Byrne J (2023). Pandemic gardening: A narrative review, vignettes and implications for future research. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening.

Alaimo K, Beavers AW, Coringrato E, Lacy KM, Ma W, Hurley TG, Hebert JR. Community gardening increases vegetable intake and seasonal eating from baseline to harvest: Results from a mixed methods randomized controlled trial. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2023; 7(5):100077.

Litt, JS, Alaimo, K, Harrall, KK, Hamman, RF, Hébert, JR, Hurley, TG, Leiferman, J, Li, K, Villalobos, A, Coringrato, E, Courtney, JB, Payton, M, Glueck, DH Community gardening improves fibre intake and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and reduces perceived stress and anxiety: Results of a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet Planetary Health. 2023; 7(1):E23-32.

Beavers AW, Atkinson A, Varvatos LM, Connolly M, Alaimo K.  How gardening in Detroit influences physical and mental health.  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 19:7899, 2022.

Beavers AW, Atkinson A, Varvatos LM, Connolly M, Alaimo K.  How gardening in Detroit influences physical and mental health.  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 19:7899, 2022.

Beavers A, Atkinson A, Ma W, Alaimo K. Garden Characteristics and Types of Program Involvement Associated with Sustained Garden Membership in an Urban Gardening Support Program. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 59(4):127026, 2021.

Courtney JB, Nuss K, Lyden K, Harrall KK, Glueck DH, Villalobos A, Hamman RF, Hebert JR, Hurley TG, Leiferman J, Li K, Alaimo K, Litt JS. Comparing the activPAL software’s Primary Time in Bed Algorithm against Self-Report and van der Berg’s Algorithm. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, Published online 28 December 2020.

Gascón M, Harrall K, Beavers A, Glueck D, Stanislawski M, Alaimo K, Villalobos A, Hebert J, Dexter K, Li K, Litt J. Feasibility of collection and analysis of microbiome data in a longitudinal randomized trial of community gardening, Future Microbiology, 2020. 15(8).

Drzal N, Henne B, Alaimo K. The Impact of a Smarter Lunchroom Program on Selection of Fruits and Vegetables by Children in School Cafeterias, Journal of Child Nutrition and Management. 2020:44(1).

Villalobos A, Alaimo K, Erickson C, Harrall KK, Glueck DH, Buchenau H, Buchenau M, Corigrato E, Decker E, Fahnestock L, Hammon RF, Hebert JR, Hurley TG, Leiferman JA, Li K, Quist P, Litt JS. CAPS on the move: Crafting an approach to recruitment for a randomized controlled trial of community gardening. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications. 2019:16. Available online 8 November 2019.

Beavers AW, Atkinson A, Alaimo K.  How Gardening and a Gardener Support Program in Detroit Influence Participants' Diet, Food Security and Food Values. Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition. 2019, 3(14):1-21.

Litt JS, Alaimo K, Buchenau M, Villalobos A, Glueck DH, Crume T, Fahnestock L, Hamman RF, Hebert JR, Hurley TG, Leiferman J, Li K. Rationale and design for the community activation for prevention study (CAPs): A randomized controlled trial of community gardening. Contemporary Clinical Trials. 2018. 68: 72-78.

Alaimo K, Beavers AW, Crawford C, Snyder EH, Litt JS. Amplifying Health Through Community Gardens: A Framework for Advancing Multicomponent, Behaviorally Based Neighborhood Interventions. Curr Environ Health Rep. 2016 Sep;3(3):302-12. doi: 10.1007/s40572-016-0105-0.

Alaimo K, Oleksyk S, Golzynski D, Drzal N, Lucarelli J, Reznar M, Wen Y, Yoder KK. The Michigan Healthy School Action Tools generate improvements in school nutrition policies and practices, and student dietary intake.  Health Promotion Practice. 2015,16(3):401-410.

Alaimo K, Pfeiffer K, Eisenmann J, et al. Project FIT: A school, community and social marketing intervention improves healthy eating among low-income elementary school children. Journal of Community Health, 2015.40(4):815-826.

Lucarelli JF, Alaimo K, et al.  Little Association Between Wellness Policies and School-Reported Nutrition Practices Health Promotion Practice, 2015.16(2):193-201.

HJ Paek, Y Jung, HJ Oh, K Alaimo, K Pfeiffer, JJ Carlson, Y Wen, HH Betz, J Orth.  A social marketing approach to promoting healthful eating and physical activity in low-income and ethnically diverse schools. Health Education Journal, published online before print, July 11, 2014.

Lucarelli JF, Alaimo K, et al.   Facilitators to promoting health in schools – is school health climate the key?  Journal of School Health. 2014; 84 (2), 133-140.

Alaimo K, Oleksyk S, Drzal, et al. Effects of changes in lunch-time competitive foods, nutrition practices and nutrition policies on low-income middle-school children’s diets. Childhood Obesity. 2013;9(6):509-523.

Eisenmann JC, Alaimo K, Pfeiffer K, et al.  Project FIT: Rationale, design and baseline characteristics of a school- and community-based intervention to address physical activity and healthy eating among low-income elementary school children. BMC Public Health 2011:11(1):607.

Alaimo K, Reischl T, Allen JO.  Community gardening, neighborhood meetings and social capital. Journal of Community Psychology 2010;38(4): 497-514.

Allen JO, Alaimo K, Elam D, Perry E.  Growing Vegetables and Values: Benefits of Neighborhood-Based Community Gardens for Youth Development and Nutrition.  Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition, 2008;3(4):418-439. 

Alaimo K, Bassett E, Wilkerson R, Petersmarck K, Mosack J, Coutts C, Mendez D, Grost L, Stegmier L. The Promoting Active Communities Program: Improvement of Michigan’s Self-Assessment Tool.  Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 2008; 5(1):4-18.

Alaimo K, Packnett E, Miles R, Kruger D.  Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among Urban Community Gardeners. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2008;40(2):94-101.