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Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and there is a disparity in mortality with higher rates for African Americans than whites. WATCH (Wellness for African Americans Through Churches) was a research project funded by the American Cancer Society aimed at improving health behaviors associated with lower colorectal cancer risk, including diet (fruits, vegetables, fat), physical activity and colorectal screening. This abstract presents diet-related study results. Twelve rural churches located in eastern North Carolina, comprising approximately 800 participants, were randomly assigned to intervention or control groups through the use of a factorial experimental research design. Two intervention strategies were compared over a 1-y period: a tailored education (TEd) intervention consisting of four individually computer-tailored newsletters and targeted videotapes sent to participants' homes and a program of multisession lay health advisor (LHA) training and social support in the churches. The tailored intervention included both individual behavioral and psychosocial tailoring based on participant survey data and targeting based on shared cultural and spiritual beliefs, referents and resources of the church community. The videotapes were designed to motivate and educate participants through testimonials and pastor sermons, skills demonstrations and modeling. The study sample was 72% female and 99% African American and the median age was 50 y. Dietary intake was assessed over the telephone using the Block food frequency questionnaire (60-item version). Baseline fruit and vegetable intake averaged 3.3 servings daily. Data analyses were adjusted for baseline intake, design effects and demographic covariates. At 1-y follow-up, there was a main effect of the TEd intervention on fruit and vegetable consumption (P = 0.018), which increased approximately 0.6 serving daily compared with no change in the LHA-only and control groups. For fat intake and percent calories from fat there were nonsignificant reductions in both interventions compared with the control group. The findings have implications for future research and dissemination.