New Resources on Nutrition Requirements for Senior Nutrition Programs

ACL’s Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs (ONHPP) has released a new suite of resources to help senior nutrition programs and others to better understand and meet dietary guidelines as well as requirements of the Older Americans Act (OAA).

Available on this DGA toolkit webpage, these resources include:

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 OAA requirement to align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs).

Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Dietary Reference Intakes Overview Presentation: This brief webinar provides an overview of the DGAs and Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) — what they are, how much flexibility they offer, and how states and Area Agencies on Aging share responsibility for setting their own nutrition and menu policies to best meet their communities’ needs.

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. Here, they share lessons learned, advice for peers, and more. A summary sheet from this discussion is also available.

OHNPP extends thanks to those who contributed to the development of these resources, including panelists Alexandra Bauman, RD, LDN of the Iowa State Unit on Aging and ACL's Nutrition and Aging Resource Center, Ryan Gadzo of the Erie County Department of Senior Services, and Tammy Rosa of the Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress. ONHHP also appreciates the input on the DGA Toolkit provided by Tufts University Dietetic Intern Mackenzie Brown and state nutritionists from California, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Wyoming.