The CARE Study

What influences cancer survivors’ eating patterns? Our research team at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is conducting a survey to understand cancer survivors’ nutritional needs and the challenges they face in making healthy food choices.

 

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People who have survived cancer eat fewer green vegetables and whole grains compared to people without a history of cancer. Survivors also had a diet low in fiber, vitamin D, vitamin E, potassium and calcium and high in sugar, fat and sodium, as defined by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans issued by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services.One in every 25 Americans is a cancer survivor —more than 14 million people nationwide. Cancer Survivors are highly motivated to seek information about food choices and dietary changes to improve their health. However, our recent study comparing cancer survivors’ dietary patterns to federal guidelines indicates that they often fall short.

Help the CARE Survey researchers understand the nutritional needs of cancer survivors: