About OAI's Health promotion and nutrition services
The Office on Aging & Independence (OAI) offers a wide range of services to promote healthy aging, improve the health and quality of life for older adults and adults with disabilities.
Healthy aging options include exercise and fitness classes, nutrition education and congregate meals at 50+ centers and evidence-based programs for those with one or more chronic conditions.
Nutrition Services
Nutrition Consultation
Free one-on-one nutrition consultations with a registered dietitian are offered at Howard County 50+ Centers by appointment. During each half-hour appointment, individuals will learn to:
- Develop healthy eating patterns and lifestyle changes
- Learn how to manage the nutritional aspect of diseases and chronic conditions
- Set personal goals
Appointments are offered at Howard County 50+ Centers and virtually by appointment. Register online below or by contacting a 50+ Center.
Congregate Meals
The congregate meal program is offered at all 50+ Centers. The lunch schedule can be viewed on the Let’s Do Lunch flier. Howard County residents aged 60 and over and their spouses of any age are eligible to participate in this program and are asked to make a voluntary, confidential donation. Those who are under 60 years of age may also participate by purchasing a meal ticket at the 50+ Center front desk.
Congregate meals allow older adults to enjoy a well-balanced meal in a group setting, offering the opportunity for social engagement. All of the Howard County 50+ Centers serve meals that have been planned and approved by a registered dietitian.
Home Delivered Meals
Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, Inc. is an organization that provides two nutritious meals daily, up to five days a week, to homebound individuals. Meals are delivered by volunteers and meet two-thirds of the nutrition adults need each day.
Contributions toward the cost of the meals are determined on a sliding scale. Subsidies through the Howard County's Office on Aging & Independence may be available to qualified older adults who cannot afford the full cost of receiving home-delivered meals.
For more information or to apply, contact Maryland Access Point (MAP) 410-313-1234 (voice/relay).
The Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program
The Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP):
- Provides fresh, nutritious, locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs from farmers' markets to low-income older adults
- Develops new farmers' markets across the state
- Provides nutrition education
Eligibility for SFMNP include:
- Low-income seniors (household incomes of not more than 185% of the Federal poverty income guidelines)
- Individuals at least 60 years old
Each summer, vouchers are distributed to eligible Howard County residents to purchase fresh, locally grown produce at Farmers' Markets in Maryland
*2023 Registration information coming soon*
Nutritional Video Library
Click below to view nutritional videos and recommended recipes.