Dietary Guidelines And OptionsNutritious, home-delivered meals

At Meals on Wheels of Monroe County, a registered dietician assists in planning a menu designed to provide balanced, visually-appealing meals. After all, they say the first bite is with the eye.
Assorted fruits and vegetables piled together including apples, corn on the cob, mushrooms, bananas, watermelon, peppers, garlic, kiwi, strawberries and more

Fresh, healthy ingredients make nutritious meals!

Meals follow U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) “Choose My Plate” meal planning guidelines, and comply with the PA Department of Aging’s nutrition guidelines for home-delivered meals.

Regular diabetic/cardiac-friendly meals provide a minimum one-third of the Dietary Reference Intake for nutrients. With a maximum daily average over a week, each two-meal unit contains less than 1,800 mg of sodium, has fewer than 35% of calories derived from fat, and provides 1,200 to 1,500 calories.

A typical, two-meal unit includes:

  • Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs, and/or Nuts: 2 servings
  • Vegetables: 2-4 servings
  • Fruit: 2-4 servings
  • Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta: 2-4 servings

Special meal types and textures:

Please note, meal variety may be limited.

  • Diet: Lower in fats and carbohydrates than our regular option
  • Renal (for those with renal disease): While we do not limit protein, we exclude tomato products, potatoes, oranges, bananas, raisins, and cantaloupes to minimize phosphorus and potassium intake.
  • NSSC (for those with diverticulitis or colitis): No seeds, skins, or corn
  • No Leafy Greens (for those on blood thinners): To reduce Vitamin K
  • Specialty Diets: Vegetarian, Vegan, Lactose-Free, and Gluten-Free
  • Soft-Chopped (for those with trouble chewing): Hard-to-chew items are chopped to make mealtime easier and more enjoyable.
  • Pureed (for those with problems chewing or swallowing): Food is pureed into a smooth, pudding-like consistency

Eligibility

A person, over the age of 18, must be substantially homebound due to physical or mental challenges, and must be unable to shop and/or prepare meals.

Service Area

Monroe County, PA

Delivery Dates

Our volunteers deliver between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. We do not deliver on these holidays: New Year’s Day, Presidents Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the following Friday, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. If a meal delivery day falls on a holiday, clients may request pre-delivery. All non-delivery days are subject to change.

Cost

Although contributions are welcome, meals are never denied if an individual is unable to pay.

Meal Preparation

All meals are prepared by Meals on Wheels of NEPA. To learn about the program, visit their website.

READY TO GET STARTED?

Struggling to prepare meals? Still value your independence? Meals on Wheels of Monroe County might be the perfect solution! Whether you need help or you know someone else in need, the application process is quick and easy.

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