A Pilot Teaching Kitchens Intervention Protocol to Improve the Dietary Quality of Congregate Meals for Older Adults
Tufts University
Summary
This study will evaluate a culinary nutrition intervention designed to improve the quality of meals served to older adults participating in a senior center. Many meals currently provided in these settings do not meet recommended dietary guidelines, which negatively impact health outcomes among older adults. In this pilot study, participants will receive improved lunch meals that are designed to be more nutritious, culturally appropriate, and acceptable, along with nutrition education sessions over a 6-month period. This intervention will also include training for food service staff to support implementation of the improved meals. The study will assess changes in dietary quality, physical health measures, and social and behavioral outcomes among participants at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Findings from this study will help determine the feasibility and effectiveness of this approach and inform future efforts to improve nutrition and health outcomes in Congregate Meal Program for older adults.
Description
Congregate meal programs within senior centers serve a large population of older adults in the United States, yet many meals provided in these settings do not meet recommended dietary guidelines particularly for whole grains, micronutrients, sodium, and saturated fat. Poor dietary quality in this population may contribute to increased risk of chronic diseases, reduced physical function, and lower overall well-being. This study is a Phase III pilot feasibility study designed to evaluate a culinary nutrition intervention implemented in a senior meal center serving older adults. The intervention…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 50+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age 50 years or older 2. Regularly visits the Senior Center either for lunch meals or other center-based programming 3. Willing and able to participate in a 6-month intervention, which includes consistent involvement in the lunch program 4. Willing and able to participate in multiple focus group discussions centered around meal preferences, health perceptions, and dietary habits (full study participation is 7 months) 5. Capable of providing informed consent and completing an eligibility screening Exclusion Criteria: 1. History of moderate to severe neurological condit…
Location
- Glastonbury Senior CenterGlastonbury, Connecticut