Document Type
Research Report
Publication Date
3-2014
Abstract
This report is an evaluation of an innovative community-based intervention – the Food Dollars Program. Funded by the AARP Foundation, this program was designed and delivered by Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) and their Elder Services staff in order to promote healthy eating and reduce food and economic insecurity among low-income elders in Boston. The impetus for creating this program arose from the challenges many low-income individuals face in purchasing and consuming healthy foods from the five food groups as recommended by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in their ChooseMyPlate model of healthy eating. The Food Dollars curriculum combines information about good nutrition with information about financial literacy. The hypothesis is that it is possible to improve healthy eating in adults who are age 50 and older and for them to stretch limited food budgets if they are provided with knowledge about nutrition, healthy eating, shopping and cooking habits AND information about good money management skills, senior discounts, food resources, and benefit programs.
Community Engaged/Serving
Part of the UMass Boston Community-Engaged Teaching, Research, and Service Series. http://scholarworks.umb.edu/engage
Recommended Citation
Bookman, Ann and Phillips, Susan M., "Healthy Eating and Savvy Saving: An Evaluation of Action for Boston Community Development’s Food Dollars Program For Low-Income Elders" (2014). Gerontology Institute Publications. 100.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/gerontologyinstitute_pubs/100
Included in
Economic Policy Commons, Gerontology Commons, Health Policy Commons, Public Administration Commons, Social Policy Commons, Social Welfare Commons, Urban Studies Commons
Comments
This report was prepared for Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) and made possible by the support of the AARP Foundation.