Tackling Nutrition Literacy Among the Homeless: Providing Hope Through Healthy Food Habits Program

Abstract

Bridgewell’s Recuperative Care Center is a medical respite care center that provides short-term residential care for individual who are sick and homeless. Individuals who are homeless experience challenges such as obtaining healthy food options. In a senior-level internship, this author’s goal was to educate a group of adults (50+ years old) whom are homeless about nutrition and how to read food labels. Participants (guests) completed pre- and post-surveys and were introduced to a nutrition program that discussed healthy food options upon discharge and the importance of understanding food labels. When the program concluded, 9 of the 11 guests felt that understanding food labels was important.