** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** APPROXIMATELY 60% OF U.S. ADULTS HAVE ONE CHRONIC DISEASE AND 40% HAVE TWO OR MORE, INCLUDING DIET-RELATED HEALTH CONDITIONS LIKE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE (CVD), THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES. THE DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS (DGA) RECOMMEND A DIETARY PATTERN THAT INCLUDES 1.5 CUP-EQUIVALENTS/WEEK OF PULSES FOR HEALTH PROMOTION AND CHRONIC DISEASE RISK REDUCTION. YET, RESEARCH DEMONSTRATES THAT A HIGHER INTAKE OF PULSES - NUTRIENT-DENSE FOODS THAT PROVIDE NUMEROUS UNDER-CONSUMED NUTRIENTS (E.G., FIBER, IRON, FOLATE, AND POTASSIUM) - MAY BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF CVD RISK FACTORS. THUS, THE PROPOSED PROJECT AIMS TO COMPARE THE IMPACT OF TWO WEEKLY DOSES OF PULSES - 1.5 CUPS/WEEK AND 3 CUPS/WEEK - ON CVD RISK FACTORS AND DIET QUALITY IN A PARALLEL-ARM TRIAL. ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY ADULTS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE U.S. POPULATION (AGED 18-65 YEARS) WILL BE RANDOMIZED TO A CONTROL GROUP OR AN INTERVENTION GROUP INCLUDING 1.5 CUPS/WEEK OR 3 CUPS/WEEK INTO THEIR HABITUAL DIETARY PATTERN FOR 12 WEEKS. ALL INTERVENTION GROUPS WILL TAKE PART IN BI-WEEKLY COOKING CLASSES AND FOOD DEMONSTRATIONS. AT BASELINE AND FOLLOWING EACH 12-WEEK PERIOD, DIETARY INTAKE, LIPIDS, GLUCOSE, HS-CRP, BLOOD PRESSURE, BODY WEIGHT, AND DIET SATISFACTION WILL BE ASSESSED. WE PREDICT THAT ADDING PULSES TO THE DIET WILL LEAD TO BETTER HEART HEALTH AND IMPROVED DIET QUALITY, AS WELL AS GREATER SATISFACTION WITH LIFE. THIS RESEARCH WILL PROVIDE VALUABLE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF PULSES AND MAY INFLUENCE FUTURE DIETARY GUIDANCE IF THERE IS EVIDENCE TO INCREASE THE RECOMMENDED AMOUNT OF PULSES IN THE DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS.