Project Grant R01DK149247

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases awarded the University of Pennsylvania $808,720 on September 1, 2026, under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847) to conduct a longitudinal randomized controlled trial examining how unhealthy food restrictions and healthy food incentives on a monthly food benefit program affect diet quality and program experiences among low-income Americans.

The study will enroll 357 income-eligible participants not currently enrolled in nutrition assistance programs over a 12-week intervention period (4 weeks baseline, 8 weeks intervention). Participants will receive monthly food benefits for grocery shopping and be randomized into three arms: unhealthy food restrictions alone, restrictions paired with healthy food incentives, or a control group. The research will measure changes in healthy and unhealthy food purchases, dietary intake quality, and participant experiences with the benefit program. The primary hypothesis anticipates that restrictions combined with incentives will produce the greatest improvements in healthy food purchases and intake and the largest reductions in sugary food purchases and intake compared to restrictions alone or control conditions.

Research activities will be performed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The period of performance extends from September 1, 2026, through May 31, 2031.