Frequently Asked Questions

Nutrition by Sally Livingston, RD Nutrition Consultant

How much sodium is in your meals?

• Meals on Wheels meals follow the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Our goal is to keep the sodium to less that 1,000 mg sodium per meal. We reduce the amount of sodium in the meals as much as possible while still providing variety. Compared to restaurants and prepared foods, our meals will be lower in sodium.

Some ways we reduce the sodium are:

• Use no salt or MSG in cooking and use a salt-free base for our gravies and soups.
• Limit serving higher sodium entrees to two or three times a month. This includes turkey ham, polish sausage, chicken teriyaki, chicken adobo, etc. We use turkey ham which is lower in sodium than regular ham. We also bold these items so you know they are higher in sodium.
• Use fresh and frozen vegetables and unprocessed foods as often as possible.

Will your meals meet Type 2 Diabetes dietary needs?

• In general, our meals fit into a diabetic diet, except for the concentrated sweets. Beginning July 1, 2009, Meals on Wheels will offer modified Home Delivered Meals for our homebound clients who have diabetes. The meals will be modified by substituting concentrated sweets and high sugar items with fresh fruit, canned fruit packed in juice or water, or sugar-free puddings,

• If you are eating at a dining site, you can meet your dietary needs by not eating the concentrated sweets, such as fruit crisps or cobblers, fruited jello, puddings, cakes, brownies, cookies or drinking cranberry juice when offered. At least two times a week, we serve fruit, such as fresh fruit or canned fruit packed in juice or water.

How long will the meal last if not eaten it right away?

• Most seniors receive a frozen home delivered meal, which can be kept in the freezer until eaten by date on the label. Be sure to put it in the freezer when it is delivered if you will not heat and eat it right away. If you get a hot meal and cannot eat it when it is delivered, put it in the refrigerator right away. The meal should be eaten within two days or thrown away. When heating it in a microwave, follow the written instructions on the meal package. The milk and other cold food should be put in the refrigerator and eaten within two to three days. Check the date on the milk to be sure it is safe if you do not drink it right away.