Black Americans understand the connection between food and health but face rising prices and other barriers that can make healthier choices difficult, according to a new report from Word In Black’s Insights & Research Division.
The report, ‘At The Table: Food & Health In Our Community,’ found widespread concerns about food safety, affordability and access to healthy foods.
Among the most striking findings, six in 10 respondents said they do not trust that the food they buy in grocery stores is safe. Rising grocery prices are also causing some families to choose cheaper and sometimes less nutritious alternatives.
“What we found is a community that knows exactly what it needs to eat well and simply cannot get there on the current terms,” said Christa Mahlobo, Ph.D., ‘Insights and Research’ director for Word In Black. “The barrier isn’t awareness. It’s price, proximity, and a food system that too often asks Black families to choose between what they can afford and what will keep them healthy.”
The findings are based on a survey of 1,249 Black Americans conducted between April 22 and June 8. Respondents were readers of Word In Black and its 10 partner Black-owned news organizations across the country.
Nearly three-quarters of respondents said lowering the cost of healthy foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables would help them eat healthier. Forty-two percent said they want more grocery stores or fresh-food markets in their neighborhoods, while 38% said greater access to nutrition education would help.
Rising food prices are already changing shopping habits. Respondents described ‘trading down’ by purchasing less-expensive brands, substituting cheaper foods for more expensive ones, looking for manager’s specials, using coupons and shopping through mobile apps to find discounts. Some also reported relying on local food pantries.
Others said they are buying fewer fresh fruits, vegetables and meats, avoiding organic foods or accepting lower-quality food because of price.
One respondent summed up the decision-making process while shopping simply: “Put it back or find a cheaper unhealthy version.”
Price is also affecting where consumers shop. Two in five respondents said reasonably priced food was the most important factor in choosing a grocery store, ahead of taste, convenience and healthfulness.
Despite the financial pressures, the survey found that Black Americans remain strongly connected to their food traditions.
About 32% of respondents said much of what they know about food came from how they were raised and what their families cooked at home. Another 29% said their current knowledge was shaped primarily by their own research and efforts to broaden their food choices as adults.
Nearly half said they try to balance traditional foods with healthier choices. About one-quarter said they continue eating mostly the foods they grew up with, while 12% said they have moved away from their traditional diets for health reasons.
The connection between diet and health was also clear to respondents. Forty-six percent strongly agreed that food in the United States contributes to diet-related illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Nine in 10 respondents agreed that what they eat also affects their mental and emotional well-being.
When asked to grade the healthfulness of their own diets, slightly more than half gave themselves a ‘B’. Respondents who rated their diets more highly were also more likely to rate their overall health as excellent or very good.
The survey suggests that Black consumers see healthier eating as an issue that extends beyond individual choices.
Seventy-three percent said lower prices for fresh fruits, vegetables and whole foods would help. Forty-two percent called for more grocery stores or fresh-food markets in their communities, and 38% wanted more public education about food and nutrition.
The report concludes by calling on policymakers, community health organizations and food retailers to expand access to healthy foods, invest in culturally relevant nutrition programs and work with trusted community leaders to provide health education.
The survey also found that health professionals are already playing an important role. Seventy-three percent of respondents said a doctor, nutritionist or other health care provider had spoken with them regularly or occasionally about their diets or eating habits.
The findings ultimately point to a central challenge: Black Americans largely understand the importance of healthy eating, but for many families, knowing what to eat and being able to afford and access it are two different things.
(‘At The Table: Food & Health In Our Community’ was produced by Word In Black’s Insights & Research Division. The research division launched in 2025 with support from the MacArthur Foundation and Knight Foundation. The research for the report was made possible by the MacArthur Foundation. Based on reporting by the Houston Defender.)
