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 3 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.

Smart Meals Chef, Claire Brockley, preparing a delicious meal for Damien Center members. Notice our amazing volunteers helping out with meal prep in the background!

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