December is full of holidays that tend to involve gatherings and, naturally, food. It’s important for everyone, including older adults, to have access to nutritious meals not just during the holidays, but year-round. New York’s aging services operates the largest nutrition program in the nation, including arranging for congregate meals, home-delivered meals, and emergency meals when possible. Area agencies on aging also offer nutrition counseling and resources so that clients can successfully make healthy and delicious meals at home. These agencies engage in innovative ways to connect you with food, such as vouchers to promote shopping at farmers’ markets, cooking classes, and more.
Given the natural connection between the holidays and food, here are some resources that can help you build confidence in the kitchen and support healthy meal choices.
First, SNAP-Ed is a federally funded nutrition education program. The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) helps administer this program and offers “What’s Cooking with NYSOFA,” a free monthly series published on YouTube with cooking demonstrations and recipe ideas from a registered dietician. Videos rarely run longer than 20 minutes, and the ingredients for the recipes are affordable.
Second, GetSetUp is an online learning hub that is free to all New Yorkers. GetSetUp classes are meant for older adults, and many classes are also taught by older adults. A search for “cooking” on GetSetUp will yield multiple classes per day on specific recipes, meal planning and tips for sticking to a diet, and fun ideas for using leftovers.
Finally, if you are not already connected to your area agency on aging, please get acquainted. Whether you are in New York City and served by NYC Department for the Aging, or are served by one of the other 58 area agencies on aging in New York based on where you live, you can likely follow the office on social media, sign up for a newsletter, or get an overview of available services. Whether it is a regular home-delivered meal, a cooking demonstration at an older adult center, and/or support from a registered dietician, one or more services may support your connection to good, healthy food.
And as always, if you or a loved one are aged 60 older or are a caregiver and are in need of services, please don’t hesitate to contact your local area agency on aging whose information you can find on the NYSOFA website.
Visit the Association on Aging in New York to learn more, and follow us at @AgingNY on X, and Aging New York on Facebook and Instagram.