Skip To The Main Content
Subscribe DONATE

    NUTRITION: THE FUNDAMENTAL CORNERSTONE OF HEALTH

    Relieving hunger and providing nutrition go hand in hand, but are not one and the same. For older adults, good nutrition is perhaps the most fundamental cornerstone of a healthy life. 

    That’s why Meals on Wheels starts with the meal and prioritizes specific nutritional needs, along with services that enhance social connection, safety and more.  

    PROVIDING NUTRITION TO SENIORS WHO NEED IT

    Meals on Wheels Kitchen

    Providing nutritious meals to older adults sounds quite simple, but it's more complex than you might think. As we age, many factors make us vulnerable to malnutrition. It could be that driving or shopping for food is too hard, cooking is too tiring or even opening a can may be too difficult. In some cases, individuals might lack the basic income needed to afford healthy food.

    No matter the reason, the nutritious, prepared meals provided by Meals on Wheels are there to support successful aging and enable independence. 

    EVOLVING NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS

    Meals on Wheels America

    Age-related changes in biology, functionality and social settings often have a profound impact on an older adult’s ability to access and consume the right nutrients to support their health and well-being.

    As we age, we often need to consume fewer calories, but must have higher amounts of protein and fiber, as well as specific vitamins and minerals, to be healthy. Age-related changes in appetite, thirst, taste and ability to digest certain foods also impact our nutritional intake. Even loss of mobility or changes in eyesight or teeth that further limit their ability to access good nutrition.

    FIND A MEALS ON WHEELS PROVIDER NEAR YOU

    WHAT MEALS ON WHEELS DELIVERS

    Meals on Wheels offerings aren’t one-size-fits-all, and that’s because the health and nutritional needs of meal recipients vary, especially as they age. With a belief in food as medicine, Meals on Wheels programs support general well-being, address chronic illnesses and help older adults age successfully. 

    Healthy Meals
    All Meals on Wheels clients receive healthy, age-appropriate, nutrient-dense, portion-controlled meals that align with the most up-to-date dietary and hydration guidelines. These are hot and/or cold meals that are provided to primarily homebound individuals in their homes on a regular basis.

    Tailored Meals
    Meals tailored to align with cultural and/or medical dietary needs. Culturally tailored meals are those that align with local religious, lifestyle preferences, and regional food practices. Medically tailored meals are designed to support an older adult’s medical condition. Learn more about medically tailored meals. 

    Supplements 
    Ready-to-drink beverages that provide access to a range of nutrients consumed to support an older adult in meeting 100% of their daily nutrition requirements. Supplements are provided based on their nutritional needs, under the consultation of a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).

    Education 
    Required for programs receiving federal funding, nutrition education supports food, nutrition and physical activity choices and behaviors to maintain or improve health and address nutrition-related health conditions.

    Counseling 
    Nutrition counseling educates older adults on how to plan meals to attain their daily nutrition requirements to optimize their health and well-being and reduce the risk of chronic disease. Nutrition counseling is provided based on their nutritional needs, under the consultation of an RDN. 

    MEET ROBERT: MEALS ON WHEELS DELIVERS RELIEF

    Meals on Wheels Client

    Robert's life changed forever a few decades ago when he fell from a three-story building on a construction site that left him permanently disabled. Now, even small tasks that many of us often take for granted are very challenging. Cooking is especially difficult, as his disability impacts his fine motor skills and makes it nearly impossible for him to use utensils. “The simplest things can make me so frustrated,” he reports. Deliveries from Meals on Wheels are healthy, delicious and easy for him to microwave, which vastly improves the quality of his life every day.

    When asked how Meals on Wheels makes him feel, Robert summed it up with just one word: “relief.” 

    READ THE FULL STORY

    NUTRITION: BY THE NUMBERS

    90% Feel Better

    Eat Healthier

    Improves Health

    95% Would Recommend

    POLICY SOLUTIONS

    Meals on Wheels America is engaged in ongoing advocacy to help local Meals on Wheels programs meet the needs of their communities. To that end, we build support on Capitol Hill and in the Administration to advance funding and policies that strengthen home-delivered and community dining meal programs, the volunteers who make them happen, and the seniors they serve. 

    We’re fighting to ensure that local communities can serve a growing number of older adults and provide the support that enables them to live more nourished lives with independence and dignity.  

    This year, we are calling on Congress and the Administration to: 

    • Increase funding and support for senior nutrition programs 
    • Strengthen and secure nutrition access for older adults 
    • Advance Food as Medicine interventions 

    LEARN ABOUT ADVOCACY

    MAKE A DIFFERENCE

    Meals on Wheels Volunteer


     

    Join us in the fight against hunger and isolation. We can’t do it alone. You are the key to ensure that our senior neighbors are not forgotten about, left alone and hungry. Find a way to get involved by clicking the button below and make a difference in your own way. Together, we can deliver.™

    GET INVOLVED

    Meals on Wheels America

    AMERICA'S SENIORS NEED YOU

    Your gift will help us support the local programs that keep seniors safe and living independently nationwide.

    DONATE NOW