SMART MEALS: Cultivating Nutritious Lifestyles
Smart Meals is an education program that teaches people how to improve their nutritional well-being. Members receive nutritious meals, education, and resources aimed at improving their diet quality and physical activity, food safety, food security, and shopping behavior/resource management. Smart Meals improves nutrition for individuals and families living with HIV and AIDS in the 17 county upstate NY region through three education programs:
Community Meal Program
Members enjoy restaurant quality lunches and dinners served weekdays. A registered dietitian is available to provide dietary assessments and counseling. |
Grocery Education Program
Members receive a weekly grocery bag that includes food and recipes to prepare meals at home. |
Food Voucher Program
Vouchers are distributed monthly to members and dependent children and can be used at Price Chopper to purchase nutritious food. |
In 2017, the Albany Damien Center served 16,140 restaurant quality meals through our Smart Meals Program, pantry bags and food vouchers, as well as provided 340 Nutrition Health Education sessions.