**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE EATING PATTERNS OF U.S. ADULTS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY INCREASED ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS (UPF) AND FEW RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES (I.E., MINIMALLY PROCESSED FOODS), WHICH CAN ENCOURAGE EXCESSIVE ENERGY INTAKE, INCREASING THE RISK OF DIET-RELATED CHRONIC DISEASES. WHAT IS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH ADULTS CAN MAINTAIN CONSUMPTION OF A LOW UPF DIET IN FREE LIVING CONDITIONS AFTER RECEIVING EDUCATION, AND IF SUCCESSFULLY DOING SO WOULD IMPROVE EATING PATTERNS, EATING BEHAVIOR, AND HEALTH. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO CHARACTERIZE IF AND HOW INDIVIDUALS ARE ABLE TO MINIMIZE UPF CONSUMPTION IN FREE-LIVING CONDITIONS, AND TO USE THESE DATA TO DEVELOP AN EDUCATIONAL PHONE APPLICATION (APP) TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS IN DECREASING UPF CONSUMPTION, IMPROVING EATING PATTERNS, AND IMPROVING BIOMARKERS OF DISEASE RISK. THE CENTRAL HYPOTHESIS IS THAT INDIVIDUALS WILL ACHIEVE DECREASES IN THEIR UPF CONSUMPTION IN RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION, BUT WILL REPORT CHALLENGES IN DOING SO RELATED TO SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES. THE SPECIFIC RESEARCH OBJECTIVES ARE TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT OF ATTEMPTED CONSUMPTION OF A MINIMALLY PROCESSED DIET ON ADHERENCE TO THE U.S. DIETARY GUIDELINES, EATING BEHAVIOR, ENERGY BALANCE, HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND TENDENCY TOWARD OBESITY OVER TIME; EVALUATE AND UNDERSTAND FACILITATORS AND BARRIERS CENTRAL TO AVOIDING UPF; AND DEVELOP AND TEST AN APP TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS IN MINIMIZING UPF CONSUMPTION.