Congregate meals are nutritious, noontime dinners for older adults served at public community sites.
The purpose of these meals is to decrease malnourishment in elderly people and provide social interaction at least once a day. When government congregate meal programs started in 1973, studies had shown there was widespread malnutrition among older adults. Nutrition and other health care education is often provided before or after the meal. Meals can be prepared on site, made at a central location and then transported to individual sites in bulk for cafeteria service, or catered in individual packages. Menus, serving schedules, and variety of foods vary across the country.