Senior Nutrition Program

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging (VCAAA) provides nutritious meals for older adults in Ventura County through the Senior Nutrition Program (SNP), which includes Congregate and Home-Delivered Meal (HDM) services. Our meal programs give seniors access to nutritious meals and contribute to maintaining their health, safety, dignity and quality of life. Last year, VCAAA provided a total of 219,552 SNP meals to 4,479 seniors. Nearly 65% (141,784) of these meals were delivered to 1,163 homebound seniors from 10 meal sites throughout the county, mostly using volunteer drivers.

All SNP meals are approved by our Registered Dietitian to meet U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans and geared toward the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) and Adequate Intake for vitamins and elements for older, frail adults. These meals provide a minimum of one-third of the DRI and accommodate diabetic and low-sodium diets.

The Senior Nutrition Program is not income based. There’s a suggested donation of $3 per meal; however, no eligible individual (60 years and over) shall be denied participation because of failure or inability to contribute. This valuable service is sustained with the help of contributions. We are grateful for any contribution made.

To find a local dining site or home-delivered meal program near you, see our list of countywide meal service locations.

VCAAA has published a recipe book that gives focus on the unique nutritional needs of seniors. Each recipe in this book is registered-dietitian approved to meet U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans and geared toward the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) and Adequate Intake for vitamins and elements for older, frail adults. These meals provide a minimum of one-third of the DRI and accommodate diabetic and low-sodium diets.

Many of the recipes included in this book were contributed by the great chefs at Senior Nutrition Program meal sites throughout the county. These chefs know that seniors expect and deserve meal options that are more than just nutritious; they also want food that looks good and tastes delicious when eating at local dining halls or receiving home-delivered meals. Additionally, the ingredients of these recipes in large part can be found at local 99 Cents Only Stores and other places to shop on a budget.

» Senior Nutrition Program Recipe Book