Economy, diet rules curb Meals on Wheels programs

[Shadow]

Another story of goavernment regulations hurting instead of helping. The have so many nutrutional restrictions now...that even meals on wheels can't feed people. Guess big brother would rather have people starve to dealth than eat salt or fatty foods (just like the dood pantries).




Federal guidelines meant to help Americans eat healthier foods are straining Meals on Wheels and other nonprofits already laboring to make sure the elderly get enough to eat at all.

Snip


Cut the salt; crunch the veggies
It's not just the economy that's squeezing government outlays for community programs in general. Some are also being restricted by new federal nutrition guidelines that set standards for assistance programs.
That means that when government agencies sit down to hand out community service grants, they have to consider the new guidelines when it comes to food programs like school lunches and Meals on Wheels.
The guidelines drew a lot of attention for calling for a drastic reduction in salt consumption, especially among those 51 and older. But they also significantly changed the recommended ratio of proteins to fresh fruits and vegetables — putting much more emphasis on the latter.


That requires new menus, new storage facilities to keep all that produce fresh and new ways to cook and deliver meals.
Meeting the new requirements could be cost-prohibitive for Meals on Wheels in Bailey County, Texas, which could lose its funding from the regional association of governments, NBC station KCBD of Lubbock reported.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20...heels-programs

[Kathianne]

Another story of goavernment regulations hurting instead of helping. The have so many nutrutional restrictions now...that even meals on wheels can't feed people. Guess big brother would rather have people starve to dealth than eat salt or fatty foods (just like the dood pantries).




Federal guidelines meant to help Americans eat healthier foods are straining Meals on Wheels and other nonprofits already laboring to make sure the elderly get enough to eat at all.

Snip


Cut the salt; crunch the veggies
It's not just the economy that's squeezing government outlays for community programs in general. Some are also being restricted by new federal nutrition guidelines that set standards for assistance programs.
That means that when government agencies sit down to hand out community service grants, they have to consider the new guidelines when it comes to food programs like school lunches and Meals on Wheels.
The guidelines drew a lot of attention for calling for a drastic reduction in salt consumption, especially among those 51 and older. But they also significantly changed the recommended ratio of proteins to fresh fruits and vegetables — putting much more emphasis on the latter.


That requires new menus, new storage facilities to keep all that produce fresh and new ways to cook and deliver meals.
Meeting the new requirements could be cost-prohibitive for Meals on Wheels in Bailey County, Texas, which could lose its funding from the regional association of governments, NBC station KCBD of Lubbock reported.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20...heels-programs

I volunteered for Meals on Wheels years ago, those served needed the company as much as the food. I guarantee you their health will suffer much more by reduction in calories than improve by reduction in sodium.