June 2025
Karen Ensle EdD, RDN, FAND, CFCS
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County
As we age, healthy eating habits are as important as ever, to help older adults manage chronic health conditions like heart disease and stroke. This website and others listed offer the latest health information on aging.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Build a Healthy Eating Routine will help establish a routine that is a key to successful healthy eating. The fact sheet, 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 website features practical tips on choosing a mix of healthy foods, find out how many calories are needed, and more. Check out the Build a Healthy Eating Routine fact sheet in English and Spanish.
The website MyPlate Resources for Older Adults highlights the unique nutrition needs of people aged 60 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.
Nutritious food 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 aged 60 years and older and their spouses of any age.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) to help older adults with lower incomes afford locally grown fruits and vegetables.
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. See the details about the Senior SNAP Enrollment Initiative.
Take small steps and avail yourself of these resources and improve the quality of your diet.