Melissa Horning, PhD, RN, PHN

Associate Professor Melissa Horning's current research focuses on enhancing access to and consumption of nutritious foods. This research focus stems from client questions she heard in practice as a public health nurse about how to access and afford nutritious food. Through a cluster randomized trial funded by the National Institutes of Health, she and her community partners are evaluating the effectiveness of a full-service mobile grocery store, the Twin Cities Mobile Market, that brings affordable and nutritious food to underserved communities. They are assessing the impact of the full-service mobile market on diet quality, food security, and the amounts of fruits and vegetables brought into the home. Dr. Horning strives to develop sustainable solutions for addressing food insecurity and improving food access, in collaboration with committed community partners. Dr. Horning loves the opportunity to teach public health nursing in the prelicensure programs and in the PhD program. In her free time, she chases her 3 young children and finds grounding in their unbridled joy over simple things.

• Center for Adolescent Nursing
• Center for Child and Family Health Promotion Research
• Minnesota Obesity Prevention Center
• National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity
• American Public Health Association, Public Health Nursing Section
• International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

PhD, University of Minnesota
Major: Nursing
Minor: Public Health

BS, College of St. Benedict
Major: Nursing

Horning, M. L., Gorman, K. S., Wagner, S., & al, e. (2025). Evaluating the impact of a full-service mobile food market on food security, diet quality and food purchases: A cluster randomised trial protocol and design paper. BMJ Open, 15, e099414. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-099414

Lee, J., Helgeson, E., Horning, M., Friend, S., Elgesma, K., Kubik, M. Y., & Fulkerson, J.A. (2024). An experience of food insecurity and changes in diet quality and body mass index z-scores among elementary school students, Childhood Obesity, 20(7):508-516.  doi: 10.1089/chi.2023.0185

Horning, M. L., Bell, A., Porter, L., Wagner, S., Alver, B., & Kamdar, N. (2023). Differences in mobile food market customer outcomes between 2019 and 2021. Public Health Nursing, 40, 603–611. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.13202

Horning, M.L., Lee, J., Kamdar, N. and Winkler, M.R. (2023). Food insecurity requires nursing action. Public Health Nursing, 40, 219-221. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.13169

Kamdar, N., Hundt, N. E., Ramsey, D. J., Sansgiry, S., Utech, A., Horning, M., & Helmer, D. A. (2023). Characteristics associated with persistent versus transient food insecurity among US veterans screened in the Veterans Health Administration. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 123(7), 1044-1052.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2023.03.006 

Baltaci, A., Laska, M. N., Horning, M., Hearst, M., Lee, J., & Fulkerson, J. A. (2023). Parent meal self-efficacy and practices in households with healthy home food environments in the face of economic hardship. Appetite, 190, 107029. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2023.107029.

Horning, M. L., Friend, S., Lee, J., Flattum, C., & Fulkerson, J. A. (2022). Family characteristics associated with preparing and eating more family evening meals at home. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 122(1), 121–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2021.07.002

Flattum, C., Friend, S., Horning, M., Lindberg, R., Beaudette, J., & Fulkerson, J. A. (2021). Family-focused obesity prevention program implementation in urban versus rural communities: a case study. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 1915. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11967-3

Horning, M. L., Alver, B., Porter, L., Lenarz-Coy, S., & Kamdar, N. (2021). Food insecurity, food-related characteristics and behaviors, and fruit and vegetable intake in mobile market customers. Appetite. 166 (105466). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2021.105466

Kamdar, N. P., Horning, M. L., Geraci, J. C., Uzdavines, A. W., Helmer, D. A., & Hundt, N. E. (2021). Risk for depression and suicidal ideation among food insecure US veterans: data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 56(12), 2175–2184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-021-02071-3

Burcher, S. A., Corey, L. A., McClure Mentzer, K., Davis, L., McNamee, H., Horning, M. L., Brown, S. J., & Shlafer, R. J. (2021). Family home visiting and fathers: A scoping review. Children and Youth Services Review. 128(106132). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106132

Horning, M. L., Hill, T. M., Martin, C., Hassan, A., Petrovskis, A. & Bohen, L. (2021). The East Side Table Make-at-Home Meal-Kit Program is Feasible and Acceptable: A Pilot Study. Appetite, 160. (105087). doi:10.1016/j.appet.2020.105087

Fulkerson, J. A., Horning, M. L., Barr-Anderson, D. J., Linde, J. A., Sidebottom, A. C., Lindberg, R., Friend, S., Flattum, C., Freese, R. L. (2021). Primary childhood obesity prevention in a rural community: Study design, methods and baseline participant characteristics of the NU-HOME randomized controlled trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 100 (106160). doi:10.1016/j.cct.2020.106160

Horning, M. L., Porter, L., 2020. Twin Cities Mobile Market Food Delivery Model: A Preliminary Study Describing Results of A Customer Intercept Survey and Point of Sale Data for 2016. Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, 15(4), 484-495.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/19320248.2019.1654426

Horning, M. L., Porter, L. R., Hassan, A., Edson, E., 2020. Full-Service Twin Cities Mobile Market Impact: Qualitative Findings From Focus Groups With Customers. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120(9), 1548-1556.

Horning, M. L., Schneider, R., Beacham, B., McKechnie, A. C., Kirk, L., Emery, D., Lindquist, R., 2020. Appreciation of the Research-Practice Link: Authentic Learning Environments for Writing-Intensive Nursing Courses. Nursing Education Perspectives, 41(6), 361-363.

Horning, M. L., Ostrow, L., Beierwaltes, P., Beaudette, J., Schmitz, K., Fulkerson, J. A., 2020. Service Learning within Community-Engaged Research: Facilitating Nursing Student Learning Outcomes. Journal of Professional Nursing, 36(6), 510-513.

Horning, M. L., Olsen, J. M., Lell, S., Thorson, D. R., Monsen, K. A., 2018. Description of Public Health Nursing Nutrition Assessment and Interventions for Home-Visited Women. Public Health Nursing, 35(4), 317-326.

Myers, M. L., Fulkerson, J. A., Friend, S. E., Horning, M. L., Flattum, C. F., 2018. Case Study: Behavior Changes in the Family-Focused Obesity Prevention HOME Plus Program. Public Health Nursing, 35(4), 299-306.

Olsen, J. M., Horning, M. L., Thorson, D., Monsen, K. A., 2018. Relationships Between Public Health Nurse-Delivered Physical Activity Interventions and Client Physical Activity Behavior. Applied Nursing Research, 40, 13-19.

Fulkerson, J. A., Friend, S., Horning, M., Flattum, C., Draxten, M., Neumark-Sztainer, D., Gurvich, O., Garwick, A., Story, M., Kubik, M. Y., 2018. Family Home Food Environment and Nutrition-Related Parent and Child Personal and Behavioral Outcomes of the Healthy Home Offerings via the Mealtime Environment (HOME) Plus Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 118(2), 240-251.

Horning, M. L., Liden, G., McMorris, B. J., 2017. Sprouting Seeds of Connectedness: Associations between Gardening and Cooking Skills and Youth Connections to Peers, Adults, and Community. Children, Youth and Environments, 27(1), 1.
doi: https://doi.org/10.7721/chilyoutenvi.27.1.0001

Loth, K. A., Horning, M., Friend, S., Neumark-Sztainer, D., Fulkerson, J., 2017. An Exploration of How Family Dinners Are Served and How Service Style Is Associated With Dietary and Weight Outcomes in Children. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 49(6), 513-518.

Horning, M. L., Schow, R., Friend, S. E., Loth, K., Neumark-Sztainer, D., Fulkerson, J. A., 2017. Family Dinner Frequency Interacts with Dinnertime Context in Associations with Child and Parent BMI Outcomes. Journal of Family Psychology, 31(7), 945.

Horning, M. L., Fulkerson, J. A., Friend, S. E., Story, M., 2017. Reasons Parents Buy Prepackaged, Processed Meals: It Is More Complicated Than “I Don't Have Time”. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 49(1), 60-66.

Horning, M. L., Liden, G., McMorris, B. J., 2017. Sprouting Seeds of Connectedness: Associations between Gardening and Cooking Skills and Youth Connections to Peers, Adults, and Community. Children, Youth and Environments, 27(1), 1-16.

Horning, M. L., Fulkerson, J. A., Friend, S. E., Neumark-Sztainer, D., 2016. Associations among Nine Family Dinner Frequency Measures and Child Weight, Dietary, and Psychosocial Outcomes. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 116(6), 991-999.

Loth, K., Friend, S., Horning, M., Neumark-Sztainer, D., Fulkerson, J., 2016. Directive and Non-Directive Food-Related Parenting Practices: Associations Between an Expanded Conceptualization of Food-Related Parenting Practices and Child Dietary Intake and Weight Outcomes. Appetite, 107, 188-195.

Horning, M. L., Fulkerson, J. A., (2015). A Systematic Review on the Affordability of a Healthful Diet for Families in the United States. Public Health Nursing, 32(1),68-80.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.12145

Fulkerson, J. A., Friend, S., Flattum, C., Horning, M., Draxten, M., Neumark-Sztainer, D., Gurvich, O., Story, M., Garwick, A., Kubik, M. Y., (201)5. Promoting Healthful family Meals to Prevent Obesity: HOME Plus, A Randomized Controlled Trial. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 12(1), 1-12.

Flattum, C., Draxten, M., Horning, M., Fulkerson, J. A., Neumark-Sztainer, D., Garwick, A., Kubik, M. Y., Story, M., (2015). HOME Plus: Program Design and Implementation of a Family-Focused, Community-Based Intervention to Promote the Frequency and Healthfulness of Family Meals, Reduce Children’s Sedentary Behavior, and Prevent Obesity. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 12(1), 1-9.

Fulkerson, J. A., Larson, N., Horning, M., Neumark-Sztainer, D., (2014). A Review of Associations Between Family or Shared Meal Frequency and Dietary and Weight Status Outcomes Across the Llifespan. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 46(1), 2-19.

Horning, M., & Wagner, S. (2025, Feb). Nutrition stocking guidelines for mobile markets. Webinar for the National Mobile Market Coalition.

Horning, M. L., & Wagner, S. (2024, September). Promoting health and food equity through community engaged research. National Advisory Council of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Nursing Research, Bethesda, Maryland.

Horning, M. L. (2023, March). Partnered research with the Twin Cities Mobile Market: Moving the needle on food access, food security, dietary intake, and health of customers. National Mobile Market Summit, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Cosentino, R., Homa, L., Wilson, A., McLaughlin, R., Sliwoski, G., Wagner, S., & Horning, M. L. (2023, March). How and Why to Evaluate? Panel discussion on different perspectives of mobile market program evaluation and research. National Mobile Market Summit, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Horning, M. L., Gorman, K., Woflson, J., Laska, M., Fulkerson, J., & Harnack, L. (2024, Oct). Development and evaluation of a novel tool to measure household fruit and vegetable procurement. Oral presentation. American Public Health Association Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Kamdar, N. Witte, L., Hundt, N., Horning, M. & Helmer, D. (2023, Fall). Designing veteran-centered strategies to reduce and prevent food insecurity: A veteran and community-partnered approach. Poster Presentation, American Public Health Association Conference, Atlanta, GA.

Horning, M. L., Bell, A., Wagner, S., Alver, B., Kamdar, N. (2022, Fall). Differences in mobile food market customer outcomes between 2019 and 2021: Repeated cross-sectional customer intercept survey findings. Poster Presentation, American Public Health Association Conference, Boston, MA.

Horning, M. L., Friend, S., Freese, R., Barr-Anderson, D., Lindberg, R., Linde, J., & Fulkerson, J. A. (2021, Fall). NU-HOME Study Outcomes Related to the Home Food Environment and Child Dietary Intake and Physical Activity. Oral Presentation, The Obesity Society Conference.

Lee, J., Friend, S., Horning, M. L., Linde, J., Flattum, C., Lindberg, R., & Fulkerson, J. A. (2021, June). Are patterns of family-dinner practices associated with child and parent diet quality and body weight? International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity XChange Conference.

Horning, M. L., Friend, S., Freese, R., Barr-Anderson, D., Lindberg, R., Linde, J., & Fulkerson, J. A. (2021, Fall). NU-HOME Study Outcomes Related to the Home Food Environment and Child Dietary Intake and Physical Activity. Oral Presentation, The Obesity Society Conference.

Horning, M. L., Porter, L. & Alver, B. (2020, Oct). Prevalence of food insecurity and associations with food-related characteristics/behaviors in mobile food market customers. Oral presentation, American Public Health Association Conference, San Francisco, CA.

Horning, M. L., Hill, T. M., Martin, C, Muegge, J., Petrovskis, A. & Edson, E(2019, June). Preliminary CBPR outcomes of the East Side Table Make-at-Home Meal-Kit program. Poster presentation, International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Conference. Prague, Czech Republic. https://www.isbnpa.org/index.php?r=article/view&id=122

Evaluating Diet, Food Insecurity, and Food Purchasing Outcomes of a Full-Service Mobile Food Market with a Cluster Randomized Trial
Principal Investigator: Horning Dehmer, Melissa Lynn
Sponsoring Organization: NIH NINR National Institute of Nursing
Award Dates: 2022 - 2026

New Ulm at HOME - (NU-HOME)
Principal Investigator: Fulkerson, Jayne Allyn
Sponsoring Organization: NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institu
Award Dates: 2016 - 2022

Twin Cities Mobile Market Expansion
Principal Investigator: Horning Dehmer, Melissa Lynn
Sponsoring Organization: Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
Award Dates: 2018 - 2021

Center for Research in Family Home Visiting
Principal Investigator: Shlafer, Rebecca J
Sponsoring Organization: MN Department of Health
Award Dates: 2018 - 2020

East Side Table Research Program Evaluation Partnership
Principal Investigator: Horning Dehmer, Melissa Lynn
Sponsoring Organization: Stratis Health
Award Dates: 2018 - 2019

Child and Parent Influences on Food Choices and Purchasing: Contributions to Obesity
Principal Investigator: Horning Dehmer, Melissa Lynn
Sponsoring Organization: NIH NINR National Institute of Nursing
Award Dates: 2014 - 2015