This blog post is part of our quarterly series highlighting important healthy aging topics, key resources, and organizations working for and with older adults.
March is National Nutrition Month® — and as we age, healthy eating habits are as important as ever. Eating nutritious foods can help older adults manage chronic health conditions and lower their risk of serious health problems like heart attack and stroke. We’ve collected a variety of resources professionals can use to help older adults build and sustain healthy eating habits.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Build a Healthy Eating Routine
When it comes to healthy eating, establishing a routine is key to success. ODPHP’s healthy eating fact sheet for older adults, Build a Healthy Eating Routine as You Get Older, is a great place to start. Based on the latest edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, this resource features practical tips to help older adults choose a mix of healthy foods, find out how many calories they need, and more. Check out the Build a Healthy Eating Routine fact sheet in English [PDF – 1.2 MB] and Spanish [PDF – 1.2 MB].
MyPlate Resources for Older Adults
MyPlate’s Older Adults webpage highlights the unique nutrition needs of people age 60 years and older. Explore tips and quizzes on topics like healthy eating on a budget, dietary supplements, and food safety. Using MyPlate’s interactive resources, older adults can build their own healthy eating plans, set personalized goals with the Start Simple with MyPlate app, or even program their smart home devices to share healthy eating tips with MyPlate on Alexa. Explore MyPlate’s Older Adults webpage.
Explore more healthy eating resources
If you’re a health professional who works with older adults, don’t miss out on these resources — based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans — that cover topics relevant to older adults’ nutritional needs:
- Talk to Your Patients and Clients About Healthy Eating Routines [PDF – 1.2 MB]: This fact sheet offers simple questions that you can use to start the conversation about healthy eating routines, along with strategies to address common barriers that people of all ages may experience.
- Make Healthy Drink Choices [PDF – 1.2 MB]: Taking in too many calories from drinks can make it hard to stay at a healthy weight — even more so as we age. Share this fact sheet to help older adults make healthy drink choices.
- Cut Down on Added Sugars, Sodium, and Saturated Fat: You can share these materials to help older adults lower the amount of added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat in their diet.
Food Assistance Resources for Older Adults
Access to nutritious foods is a key social determinant of health — and a major area of focus for Healthy People 2030. Authorized under the Older Americans Act (OAA), Congregate Nutrition Services and Home-Delivered Nutrition Services provide meals to people age 60 years and older and their spouses of any age. Congregate Nutrition Services also offers opportunities for older adults to socialize in community settings like senior centers, schools, and churches as they enjoy a meal together. Learn more about Congregate Nutrition Services and Home-Delivered Nutrition Services.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers several programs that can help people age 60 years and older access a variety of healthy foods. For example, the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) helps older adults with lower incomes afford locally grown fruits and vegetables. Learn more about USDA food assistance programs for older adults.
For many people experiencing food insecurity — including older adults — the process of enrolling in food assistance programs can be a barrier to access. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) created the Senior SNAP Enrollment Initiative to help older adults enroll in the Supplemental Nutrition Access Program (SNAP), the largest food assistance program in the U.S. Get the details about the Senior SNAP Enrollment Initiative.
Move Your Way Stories: John and Patty
As we get older, staying active and preparing healthy meals can become more challenging. This Move Your Way® story celebrates John and Patty, a husband and wife who are working together to find creative solutions. They enjoy making protein-filled recipes using canned and frozen foods. Read John and Patty’s story.
For more resources to help older adults live healthier lives, visit our Healthy Aging webpage.
Related Healthy People 2030 topics:
