The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

The Supplemental Nutrition-Assistance Program-Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention (SNAP-Ed) Program was developed and implemented by Los Angeles County Community and Senior Services (CSS) Area Agency on Aging (AAA) with a grant funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered through the California Department of Aging (CDA) with support from the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). The purpose of the program is to provide evidence-based nutrition education and obesity prevention interventions to low-income older adults (60 years of age and older) attending eligible Older Americans Act (OAA) Title IIIC Congregate Meal sites. The goal of SNAP-Ed is to promote healthy eating and active living by increasing the knowledge and behaviors of low-income older adults to make healthy food choices within their limited budget. SNAP-Ed utilizes evidence-based nutrition education and physical activity interventions to encourage more active lifestyles to reduce sedentary behavior and increase access to healthy food based on the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate. SNAP-Ed was implemented July 1, 2014 at 80 congregate meal sites; and during the first six months of the project, Registered Dieticians (RDs) provided 348 one-hour class sessions consisting of nutrition education and physical fitness activities to 3,930 older adults. An additional 1,300 older adults participated in outreach activities.