Nutrition Services                  

The Onondaga County Office for Aging's Senior Nutrition Services provides county residents who are age 60, and older, with nutritious meal options as well as nutrition counseling and education. Flavorful, nutritious meals are served up to five days per  week at Senior Dining Sites and through various Home Delivered Meals providers. Nutrition counseling is available for all eligible participants at any meal site or in the home of home delivered meal recipients. To ensure compliance with federal, state and county  regulations, nutrition programs and meal service are monitored by registered dietitians/registered diet technicians to ensure compliance with federal, state and county regulations.

Services Offered: For more information, on any of our services, call 315-435-2362 and ask for Nutrition Services.

Senior Dining Sites- To meet the nutritional needs of the elderly, the Onondaga County Department Office for Aging has established a network of 27 senior dining sites throughout the county that provide a complete luncheon program. These programs serve a hot, nutritious meal, fulfilling federal nutritional guidelines. Cultural diversity is considered in menu development. Seniors 60 years of age and over (and their spouses) are encouraged to dine together in a social atmosphere. Persons who wish to participate must register in advance. This network links senior citizens into a system of services that include transportation, information and assistance, health and nutrition education, shopping assistance, and recreational activities

Eligible participants have the opportunity to give a suggested contribution towards the cost of the meal. Voluntary contributions provide additional funding to provide more meals for seniors. No eligible participant is denied a meal due to inability or unwillingness to contribute towards the cost of the meal and each client's contribution is voluntary and confidential.

There is a suggested contribution of $3.50 per meal. For individuals earning more than the 185% of the Federal Poverty Rate, we suggest considering a contribution closer to actual cost of meal: $13.00. For 2023, 185% of the Federal Poverty Rate is $26,973 for a single family household and $36,482 for a two family household.

Home Delivered Meals- Persons aged 60, and over are eligible to receive funded home delivered meals if they are homebound and disabled due to an accident, illness or frailty; lack of support of family, friends or neighbors; and are unable to prepare meals because of lack of facilities such as refrigeration, stove, etc., inability to shop and cook for self, inability  to safely prepare meals or lack of knowledge and skills. Meals are available five days per week, with provision for weekend meals if needed. 

Two meals, lunch and dinner, are provided each day. These two meals, combined, provide a minimum of 66 2/3 percent of the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for older adults. Menus are planned based on the recommendations of the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Delivery of meals also serves as a daily monitoring system to check on each person's well-being.

There is no cost for eligible participants, but there is a suggested contribution of $4.00 for two meals. No eligible participant is denied a meal due to inability or unwillingness to contribute towards the cost of the meal and each client's contribution is voluntary and confidential. For individuals earning more than the 185% of the Federal Poverty Rate, we suggest considering a contribution closer to actual cost of two meals: $10.00. For 2023, 185% of the Federal Poverty Rate is $26,973 for a single family household and $36,482 for a two family household.

Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program- Each year, the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) gives eligible, low-income older adults $25.00 in coupons to buy locally-grown fresh fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets in New York State. Booklets are available in July and may be used through  November. They are given out on a first come, first served basis. An individual must be age 60, or older, and their income must be at, or below, 185% of the current year's federal poverty level.

Farmers markets also distribute up-to-date information about healthy eating and many have cooking demonstrations using local produce in the market. Adding more fruits,vegetables and whole grains to the meals we eat helps make us all healthier. At the same time, this program helps support farming which is a major part of the New York state economy.

Nutrition Education and One-on-One Counseling with a Registered Dietitian- One-on-One counseling with one of our Registered Dietitians is available at any congregate meal site, in the homes of our Home Delivered Meals participants or at the Onondaga County Office for Aging for all eligible participants at no cost to the participant.