For seniors, living on a fixed income can be challenging. Once the bills have all been paid, there are times when purchasing nutritious foods can be difficult. This was the case at Scheper Ridge, a rent-subsidized apartment complex for seniors. Offering the Healthy Choices for Every Body nutrition series was a great fit for the needs of this community.

Participants were surprised to learn that some of the common foods they relied on were high in sodium and fat and low in nutrition. Through comparing food labels, looking at grocery ads, and looking up restaurant menu information, they learned what ingredients to look for, and which to avoid. They also learned the value of preparing foods at home from scratch including things like sauces and dressings, which many reported being concerned about keeping for too long. They learned to date jars and packages when they opened them to avoid getting food poisoning from eating expired foods. The seniors also learned the importance of cooking on a regular basis rather than turning to prepackaged meals.

Using entry and exit surveys, with the data being analyzed through a national reporting system, it was determined that 100% of those surveyed reported improving the quality of their diet in at least one of the areas listed. 86% of those surveyed also reported better resource management while grocery shopping. All of this shows that most of the participants learned to eat better for less, which increased food security by 57%.