NUTRIENT PROFILE ASSESSMENT OF A MEAL PROGRAM IMPACT ON OLDER ADULTS' DIET QUALITY AND FOOD SECURITY STATUS

The rise in food insecurity globally has ignited institutions and organizations to implement policies and programs to reduce the burden on vulnerable people including older adults and people living in underserved areas. Though programs such as congregate, home-delivered meals, and pantries have been initiated to contribute to reducing food insecurity the nutrient content of these meals including recovered meals and their effect on food security status, food quality, and health has not been widely studied. The current study, Meals on Wings (MOW), assessed the nutrient profile of the free meals offered 4 times per week for 3 months, from May 2023 to July 2023 to older adults living in housing complexes in Lexington, Kentucky. The Older Adults American Act (OAAs) standards were used to compare the nutrient content metrics of these MOW meals. The study evaluated the impact of recovered meals on diet quality, food security, and health status of this study population. The study employed pre -and post-cohort study design. Fifty samples were recruited for the survey aged ≥ 60 years with more than half of the participants being food insecure. Food security status was assessed using a 6-item USDA household food security screener. Participants' diet intake was assessed using 24-hour recall, and an average systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) with a sphygmomanometer. Body Mass Index data were also collected. ESHA food analyzer was used to analyze the nutrient content of the recovered meals compared to OAA Standards, and paired t-tests were used to compare changes and statistical significance of pre- and post-meal intervention on health indicators. This study result suggests the need for meal programs to adjust and offer consistent nutrient-dense meals to older adults and extend meal program provision beyond three months and four times per week. Although there was a slight increase in health indicators post-meal intervention, changes were not statistically significant. Findings from the study show the importance of purposively enhancing the meal program to suit the needs of this target population.