Many households face growing challenges in maintaining healthy diets as food prices rise and chronic diseases become more common

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the University of Florida Division of Sponsored Research $525,404 under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) on September 1, 2026.

The project analyzes how households' food purchasing patterns change following chronic disease diagnoses by examining large-scale grocery buying data and health information. The research tracks food purchases over time, observes shifts in buying behavior when diagnoses occur, and examines how food prices influence purchasing decisions. The project will translate findings into research summaries, policy briefs, and presentations for distribution to researchers, policymakers, program administrators, and industry stakeholders to inform nutrition-related policy and program design.

Performance is located in Gainesville, Florida. The period of performance runs from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2029. This is a Project Grant, one of the assistance types under AFRI, which funds research, education, extension, and integrated activities across six farm bill priority areas including Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health.

When a family member is diagnosed with a condition such as heart disease or diabetes, dietary changes are often recommended, yet economic constraints and food access can make IT difficult to sustain healthier eating patterns. Understanding how health diagnoses interact with food prices and purchasing decisions is important not only for affected households, but also for the broader community, as diet-related diseases influence healthcare costs, workforce productivity, and the effectiveness of public nutrition programs that support agriculture and food systems. This project will study how households' food purchases change after a chronic disease diagnosis by analyzing large-scale data on grocery buying patterns and health-related information. In simple terms, we will track what foods households buy over time, observe how those purchases shift when a diagnosis occurs, and examine how food prices affect these choices. By translating these findings into clear research summaries, policy briefs, and presentations, the project will share results with researchers, policymakers, program administrators, and industry stakeholders. The ultimate goal is to provide practical, evidence-based insights that help improve nutrition-related policies and programs so they better support healthy eating over time. If successful, the project will contribute to more informed decisions about nutrition program design, help households manage diet-related health conditions more effectively, and support a food system that promotes both public health and economic well-being.