12-Month Ready-to-Use Nutrition Education Calendar 

Nutrition education is a required part of every Older Americans Act-funded nutrition program. This education better 

equips older adults to make food choices that improve their nutritional status and help them manage or prevent health 

conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and osteoporosis. 

This sample calendar of nutrition education resources can be used as is or changed to fit participants’ needs. 

Per the State Performance Report (SPR), nutrition education is defined as “An intervention targeting OAA participants 

and caregivers that uses information dissemination, instruction, or training with the intent to support food, nutrition, and 

physical activity choices and behaviors (related to nutritional status) in order to maintain or improve health and address 

nutrition-related conditions. Content is consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans; is accurate, culturally 

sensitive, regionally appropriate, and considers personal preferences; and is overseen by a registered dietitian or 

individual of comparable expertise as defined in the OAA. (Source: National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act 

of 1990 and Input Committee)”. Nutrition education is reported in units as “sessions which may be delivered in-person or 

via video, audio, online or the distribution of hardcopy materials.” 

Please note that specific requirements for nutrition education may be indicated by your state or local

policies. Refer to those policies when planning and delivering nutrition education. 

How to Use this Guide Example 

JUNE This is the suggested month to use these resources. 

Farmers Market This is the main topic or theme for the following resources. 

• Background Information: Resources in this section provide nutrition educators, meal site leaders, and 

volunteers background knowledge on the subject matter topic of the month. 

◊ Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program

◊ Farmers Markets

• Ready-to-Use Education: Resources linked within this section are consumer-facing. 

◊ Documents/handouts Can be printed or distributed electronically to participants. 

» Farmers Market Scavenger Hunt

» Farmers Market Tips and Tricks

» Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program Fact Sheet

» Farmers Market Recipe Cards

◊ Videos Can be shared via email, social media, or in-person. 

» Tips for Shopping a Farmers Market

» Farmers Markets

» In Season 

» 6 Tips for Farmers Market Shopping

◊ Interactive Online Tools When available, these tools can be accessed on the internet for participants to utilize. 

» Seasonal Food Guide 

June 2023 
JANUARY 

MYPLATE 

• Background Information:

◊ MyPlate on Alexa

• Ready-to-Use Education:

◊ Documents/handouts 

» Healthy Eating for Older Adults

» Start Simple with MyPlate

» Using the Nutrition Facts Label for Older Adults 

» Choose MyPlate for a Healthy Meal

◊ Videos 

» Start Simple with MyPlate

» MyPlate, MyWins: What’s Your Healthy Eating Style?

» What is MyPlate?

» MyPlate for Older Adults

» Food Groups and Portion Sizes (also contains 

information relevant for those with diabetes) 

◊ Interactive Online Tools 

» Older Adults Nutrition Quiz 

FEBRUARY 

FRUITS AND VEGGIES 

• Background Information:

◊ 10 Tips to Help an Older Adult Eat More Vegetables

◊ Fruits - MyPlate

◊ Vegetables - MyPlate

• Ready-to-Use Education:

◊ Documents/handouts 

» Berries 5 Ways

» Canned Peaches 5 Ways

» Canned Pears 5 Ways

» Broccoli 5 Ways

» Clean Fruits and Vegetables 

◊ Videos 

» Clean Fruits and Vegetables 

» Storing Fruits and Vegetables 

» Breakfast Fruit Salad 

» Consuming Evidence “Which is best? Fresh, Frozen or 

Canned” 

MARCH 

WHOLE GRAINS 

• Background Information:

◊ Grains 

◊ Make Half Your Grains Whole Grains

• Ready-to-Use Education:

◊ Documents/handouts 

» Brown Rice 5 Ways

» Make Half Your Grains Whole Grains

◊ Videos 

» How to Incorporate Whole Grains into Meals

» Whole Grains 101

» Consuming Evidence “Should You Avoid Gluten?”

» 10 ways to eat more whole grain | Lifesum 

APRIL 

PROTEIN 

• Background Information:

◊ Protein 

• Ready-to-Use Education:

◊ Documents/handouts 

» Turkey 5 Ways

» Nutrition Needs for Older Adults: Protein

» Protein Breakfast Foods (first page is for consumer and second page is for Nutrition 

Directors and Site Managers)

» Cooking with Plant-Based Protein 

» Protein 

» The Importance of Protein 

◊ Videos 

» Seniors and protein 

» Highest Protein Foods | Foods Rich In Protein | Best 

Protein Rich Foods On The Planet 

» The Importance of Protein and Healthy Aging - Nestlé 

Health Science

» 6 High-Protein Foods That Are Super Healthy

This project was supported in part by grant number 90PPNU0002 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking 

projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.
MAY 

DAIRY 

• Background Information:

◊ Dairy Requirements in Senior Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet 

• Ready-to-Use Education:

◊ Documents/handouts 

» Yogurt 5 Ways

» Dairy 

» Aging Vibrantly 

» Get Your Dairy

◊ Videos 

» Dairy: MyPlate

» What Are the Health Benefits of Milk for Adults?: Fresh 

Kitchen 

» What Can I Eat for Gut Health?

» How to Make a Mixed Berry Smoothie

» What is Lactose Intolerance?

JUNE 

FARMERS MARKET 

• Background Information:

◊ Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program

◊ Farmers Markets

• Ready-to-Use Education:

◊ Documents/handouts 

» Farmers Market Scavenger Hunt

» Farmers Market Tips and Tricks

» Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program Fact Sheet

» Farmers Market Recipe Cards

◊ Videos 

» Tips for Shopping a Farmers Market

» Farmers Markets 

» In Season 

» 6 Tips for Farmers’ Market Shopping

◊ Interactive Online Tools 

» Seasonal Food Guide 

JULY 

HYDRATION 

• Background Information:

◊ Fight the Heat with Hydration and Nutrition

• Ready-to-Use Education:

◊ Documents/handouts 

» Drink to Your Health

» 10 Reasons Why Hydration is Important (utilize Print This 

Page option located under the title within the article to 

create a consumer handout) 

» Water and Healthier Drinks (utilize the Print option located under the title within the article to create a 

consumer handout) 

» Preventing Dehydration In Older Adults 

◊ Videos 

» The Importance of Hydration

» Tips For Staying Hydrated

» Navigating the Waters of Aging: Symptoms of 

Dehydration in the Elderly 

» Tips for Seniors to Drink More Water

AUGUST 

ORAL HEALTH 

• Background Information:

◊ Dental Health Concerns for Adults age 40-60 

◊ Medications and Oral Health 

◊ Oral Health 

• Ready-to-Use Education:

◊ Documents/handouts 

» Oral Health Consumer Handouts

» Untreated Tooth Decay 

» Tooth Loss 

» Tooth Loss and Chronic Disease 

◊ Videos 

» Oral Health throughout the Life Course 

» Aging and Oral Health 

» Why Visit the Dentist 

» How to Brush Your Teeth
• 

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SEPTEMBER 

FOOD SAFETY 

Background Information:

Four Steps to Food Safety 

Home Food Safety

Temperature Rules for Safe Cooking 

Ready-to-Use Education:

◊ Documents/handouts 

» Food Safety Infographics 

» Kitchen Food Safety Basics 

◊ Videos 

» Home Food Safety-Clean

» Home Food Safety-Separate

» Home Food Safety-Cook

» Home Food Safety-Chill

» Don’t Wash Your Chicken

OCTOBER 

NUTRITION FACTS LABEL 

Background Information:

Using the Nutrition Facts Label 

• Ready-to-Use Education:

◊ Documents/handouts 

» Nutrition Facts Label 

» Key Changes 

» Using the Nutrition Facts Label (download pdf for use as 

consumer handout) 

» Wallet Tip Card

» Added Sugars 

» Calories 

» Daily Value and Percent Daily Value 

» Folate and Folic Acid 

◊ Videos 

» Nutrition Facts Label Video Playlist 

» How to Read a Nutrition Facts Label

» Food for Thought - How to Use the Nutrition Facts Label

» The Food Label and You: The 5-20 Rule Part 1 (Historical PSA)

◊ Interactive Online Tools 

» Interactive Nutrition Facts Label 

NOVEMBER 

SODIUM 

• Background Information:

◊ Guide to SUA Sodium Policies and Guidance 

◊ FDA Sodium Guidance and Healthy Meals for Older 

Adults 

• Ready-to-Use Education:

◊ Documents/handouts 

» Making the Move to DASH (Dietary Approaches 

to Stop Hypertension) 

» How to Reduce Sodium Intake (utilize the Print 

option located under the title within the article 

to create a consumer handout) 

» About Sodium (utilize the Print option located under the title within the article to create a 

consumer handout) 

» Low-Sodium Eating 

◊ Videos 

» Food for Thought - How to Reduce Sodium in Your 

Diet 

» The Top 5 Tips to Lower the Salt in Your Diet

» How to Lower Sodium in Your Diet

» How to Reduce Your Salt Intake

DECEMBER 

SUPPLEMENTS 

• Background Information:

◊ Dietary Supplements — NIH overview Background 

Information on Dietary Supplements 

◊ Food Sources of Nutrients — USDA reference 

» Calcium 

» Dietary Fiber 

» Iron 

» Potassium 

» Vitamin D 

• Ready-to-Use Education:

◊ Documents/handouts 

» Calcium and Vitamin D 

» Vitamin B12 and You

» Understanding Dietary Supplements 

» Comprender los suplementos dietéticos

» Talking to Healthcare Professionals About Dietary 

Supplements 

» Hablar con los profesionales de la salud sobre los 

suplementos dietéticos

◊ Videos 

» Thinking About Taking A Dietary Supplement?

» Dietary Supplements Overview 

» Let’s Talk Dietary Supplements

» Dietary Supplements and Medications

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