Nutrition

 

Nutrition Services are a critical component of our comprehensive Supportive Services. Nutrition plays a very important role in the health and wellness of individuals living with HIV/AIDS. This program provides a comprehensive continuum of nutrition services including:

• Home delivered meals;
• Home delivered groceries
• Home delivered food vouchers;
• HIV specific food pantries
• A Daily congregate dining program
• Nutritional screenings, assessments,
• Individualized nutrition counseling
• Group nutrition education.

 

The short-term goal of this program is to ensure that participants have the proper nutrition to sustain their maximum health objectives, and the long-term goal is to ensure participants will develop the skills necessary to attain higher levels of  self-sufficiency upon graduation from program.

Our nutrition services are integrated into EHS’ comprehensive services which are designed to improve individual health status and promote greater levels of independence and self-esteem. All participants will be encouraged, but not mandated, to take advantage of EHS’ comprehensive services that are designed to be accessible, culturally appropriate and holistic, while promoting personal empowerment and responsibility while maintaining the flexibility to allow consumers to transition to higher levels of dependence or independence as necessary.

All components provide HIV specific nutrition following New York State Health Department guidelines and are culturally appropriate with consumers having full options in the types of foods they select. Recipients of the home delivered boxes and vouchers components receive a minimum of two consultations per year with the Registered Dietician so each participant receives a “nutrition prescription” personally tailored to their specific health status at any given time.