September 14, 2017

Nutrition Education for Seniors

Genevieve Murstig, OHSU Dietetic Intern

Location: Congregate dining center

Theme: USDAs Choose MyPlate

Text education materials: MyPlate place mat w/coordinating shopping list and meal
planner

Literacy level: Sixth grade reading level

Visual education material: Choose MyPlate 20 X 16 poster downloaded from

https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/myplate-posters

Resource: https://www.choosemyplate.gov

History: Participants had requested more information about what kinds of foods to eat
and helpful shopping suggestions. The USDAs MyPlate was a good choice as it
provides key messages on how to build a varied healthy plate for their future meals.
The ChooseMyPlate website oers a multitude of resources including information
about serving sizes by age, food descriptions and examples, and tips for shopping.

Goal: to provide a brief interactive presentation using a ChooseMyPlate focus.

Nutrition education visual aids and handouts were created in order to translate the
theme. Necessary focus was needed to develop materials that are graphically pleasing,
culturally sensitive and targeted towards a senior population.

In working with a senior population, it is imperative to have a comfortable relationship

that produced trust and credibility between the presenter and participants. Personal
interactions several days prior to the presentation are critical to establishing this
relationship.

On presentation day, nutrition education materials were as follows:

My Plate placemat (handout), 40 copies

Shopping list, 40 copies

Meal Planner, printed on other side of shopping list

Choose MyPlate 20 X16 poster

The MyPlate placemat, shopping list and meal planner copies were placed at each
seating for each participant to keep.

With the assistance of the center manager holding the Choose MyPlate poster, a
microphone was utilized to allow the participants to hear the following presentation:

1. A description of USDAs MyPlate program.

2. A description the handout materials at the tables.

3. A description of the Choose MyPlate poster and how to obtain more information
on the internet.

4. Explanation of each individual portion of MyPlate which includes: Fruits,

Vegetables, Protein, Grains and Dairy.

 September 14, 2017

5. Portion size for age information was directed back to the Choose MyPlate
website.

6. Explanation of eating 3 meals a day that look like MyPlate to ensure proper
nutrition.

7. The meal planner handout was discussed, going over the 2 meal examples.

8. Audience participation was requested in order to fill out the 3rd meal example on
the meal planner handout. Approaching one table at a time and encouraging
participation was important to keep participants engaged. Suggestions were made
to use the shopping list handout to brainstorm ideas.

9. Reviewed the 3rd meal example and oered suggestions for alternatives to their
likings.

10. Asked open-ended questions about how to incorporate MyPlate into their daily
lives.

11. Reviewed the USDA ChooseMyPlate website.

12. Thanked the audience for their attention and participation.

Feedback post-presentation was good!

Great job, really enjoyed the presentation,

I can see myself using this

I dont like the foods on here, so I wrote down my own.

I have some allergies but I crossed o the foods that I cannot have

Im going to use this for dinner tonight