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Volume 2, Issue 3

Nutrition and Aging Resource Center

Needs Assessment

Input Requested!


The Nutrition and Aging Resource Center is seeking input from those who work with Older Americans Act funded programs. Please complete this survey by Monday, March 14.


Responses will help inform programming, training, and research endeavors for the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center.


Any with questions or concerns may contact the principal investigator, Dr. Sarah L. Francis, at slfranci@iastate.edu

Nutrition and Aging Resource Center 2022 Needs Assessment Introduction Video

Needs Assessment Introduction Video

How to Partner with Restaurants and Food Establishments

Innovation encourages partnerships


Innovation can be scary, but innovation may also be the key to feeding more aging adults. For many programs, partnering with restaurants and food trucks is an innovation that is working. Learn more to determine if this type of innovation may be right for your program.



Below are some resources available on the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center website.

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Meals in Motion: Quick Guide to Food Truck Operations for Senior Nutrition Programs

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Step-by-Step Guide for Senior Nutrition Programs Seeking to Work with Food Retailers (Restaurants and Grocery Stores) for Meals

Increasing choice through a flexible, technology-driven meal program in New York

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To modernize congregate dining programs, the Albany County Department for Aging and the Erie County Department of Senior Services partnered in a study with local restaurants to give participants more flexibility in how and where they dine. Adults 60 and older could eat at a time of their choosing in any participating restaurant. The study had a number of positive outcomes, including decreased feelings of social isolation in older adults. The study also demonstrated the need for more progressive, self-driven services for older adults.


For additional resources, go to:

March: National Nutrition Month AND the Senior Nutrition Program's 50th Anniversary

ACL has chosen "Celebrate. Innovate. Educate." as the theme for the 

Senior Nutrition Program's 50th anniversary.

Mark your calendars for the virtual celebration on

March 31, 2022, from 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET.

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What's New in Nutrition & Aging

Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Older Adults: Toolkit for Senior Nutrition Programs


This toolkit is designed to help Senior Nutrition Programs develop policies that meet the Older Americans Act requirements to align with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.


Within the toolkit, there are a number of tip sheets relating to menu creation, dairy requirements, calcium and potassium, protein, dietary fiber, vitamin D and vitamin B-12, and so much more!

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Dietary Guidelines For Americans and Dietary Reference Intakes New Resources

  • Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) and Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) Overview Presentation: This brief webinar provides an overview of the DGAs and DRIs — what they are, how much flexibility they offer, and how states and Area Agencies on Aging share responsibility for setting nutrition and menu policies to best meet the needs of each community.
  • Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Dietary Reference Intakes Network Discussion: ACL's Senior Nutrition Program invited aging services network members from three states to share their experiences with the DGAs and DRIs. Lessons, advice for peers, and more are shared. A summary sheet from the discussion is also available.

Nutrition and Aging News From the Network

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SNAP Resources


  • Who qualifies for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits? Many people may qualify and not know it. SNAP benefits may help offset the cost of groceries and support a healthy, balanced diet.
  • What if a program aided in preventing chronic disease, reducing the risk of falls, and increasing the likelihood of a senior participant continuing to live independently? SNAP can do all that and more.
  • According to the National Council on Aging, approximately three out of five seniors — an estimated 5 million people in all — who qualify to receive SNAP benefits are missing out. Learn more about how to apply.
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2022 Grant Opportunity


The first round of 2022 grant opportunities from the Center for Science in the Public Interest is now open. Current opportunities exist for the following:

  • Policies to expand or strengthen Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Fruit and Vegetable Incentives
  • Community-Driven Policy Campaigns to Advance Health Equity through SNAP 
  • Healthy Restaurant Kids’ Meals Policies 
  • Healthy Food Purchasing and Food Service Policies for Public Facilities 
  • Federal Lobbying Grants Supporting Healthy School Meals

Learn more at Center for Science in the Public Interest.

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Food is Medicine Coalition Accelerator Cohort!


Is yours a nonprofit organization passionate about food security and utilizing healthy foods to help manage chronic disease? Apply now for the 2022-2023 Food is Medicine Accelerator Cohort. This group works to ensure Medically Tailored Meals (MTM) are available to those who need them most. Interested organizations must:


  • Be a nonprofit organization with the capacity to dedicate to an intensive 12-month training program requiring travel to Boston and New York
  • Have experience with food safety and commercial food production
  • Have access to a commercial kitchen (capable of volume meal production)
  • Have an RDN on staff or be willing to hire one
  • Demonstrate a commitment to providing medically tailored home-delivered meals to individuals coping with illness
  • Contribute a participation fee of $20,000 per organization
Would you be interested in being spotlighted in a newsletter?
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