Food for Thought Initiative

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

Baltimore County Department of Aging (BCDA or Agency) developed a year-long "Food For Thought" for older adults to highlight the importance of empowering oneself with tools and resources to obtain and maintain proper nutrition. Throughout the year, individuals were offered the opportunity to participate in a range of informative offerings, including an Expo, publications, health screenings and seminars, geared to optimizing the well-being of the County’s older residents. "Food for Thought" Educational Sessions topics which were presented to older adults in the county's 20 senior centers included Eating on a Budget, Instruction about the SNAP program, Balanced Diets, The MyPlate program for older adults, Vitamins and Minerals in your Food, Coupons, Cooking Demonstrations, screenings such as glucose, blood pressure, kidney, cholesterol, bone density, oral cancer, depression and BMI. The "Food for Thought" initiative could not have been accomplished without the successful partnerships with County agencies, private companies and non-profits.