Meals and Nutrition

Meals on Wheels brings meals to people over 60 who are homebound and unable to prepare their own meals. The menu is varied and the meals are nutritionally balanced, cooked without added salt, and consists of an entrée, two sides, dessert, milk, bread and margarine. We offer soft, ground, pureed, low-lactose, renal, and cardiac menus. We also offer a modified meal for people with diabetes.  Meals are delivered between 8:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. If you’re isolated and homebound, you can arrange for frozen meals that you can use over the weekend.

We ask for a small donation per meal to help us pay for the program. But we never deny anyone a meal if they can't afford to donate.

It’s easy to start delivery of Meals on Wheels. Simply call Information & Referral at 781-599-0110.

You can view, download, or print the Monthly Meals on Wheels Menu.

You can view, download, or print the Monthly Meals on Wheels Cardiac Menu.

Meals on Wheels does not operate on the following holidays:

·         New Year’s Day (January 1)
·         Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (3rd Monday in January)
·         Presidents’ Day (3rd Monday in February)
·         Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
·         Juneteenth (June 19)
·         Independence Day (July 4th)
·         Labor Day (1st Monday in September)
·         Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October)
·         Veterans’ Day (November 11)
·         Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November)
·         Christmas Day (December 25)

Through special volunteer efforts, meals may be available on Thanksgiving and Christmas days.  Please call 781-599-0110 to inquire.

Throughout our service area, you will find places to enjoy a healthy, affordable meal, usually located within a local senior center or housing site. These Community Cafés provide an opportunity for you to:

·         Get together with your friends

·         Meet new people

·         Have a reason to go out

·         Enjoy a hot, nutritious meal at a reasonable price

·         Stretch your budget

·         Maybe play a game of cards or Bingo afterwards.

Meal sites are closed on the following holidays:

·    New Year’s Day (January 1)
·    Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (3rd Monday in January)
·    Presidents’ Day (3rd Monday in February)
·    Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
·    Juneteenth (June 19)
·    Independence Day (July 4th)
·    Labor Day (1st Monday in September)
·    Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October)
·    Veterans’ Day (November 11)
·    Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November)
·    Christmas Day (December 25)
 

You can view the Monthly Congregate Menu in pdf form.

Meals are provided at some senior housing sites and at your local senior center. For more information, contact your community’s council on aging for site information, hours of operation, and bad weather closings.

·    Lynn Council on Aging: 781-598-4000

·    Lynnfield Council on Aging: 781-598-1078

·    Nahant Council on Aging: 781-581-7557

·    Saugus Council on Aging: 781-231-4178

·    Swampscott Council on Aging: 781-596-8866

Transportation to some sites can be arranged.  Call your nearest site for details.

Phoenix Food Hub

The Phoenix Food Hub is a collaborative project spearheaded by Greater Lynn Senior Services (GLSS) as part of the Lynn Food Security Task Force. It involves many organizations across the region and brings together as many nutrition-related supports as possible. The Phoenix Food Hub serves people of all ages with nutrition needs in and around the Lynn area. The Phoenix Food Hub is a one-stop shop where individuals and families at risk of nutrition insufficiency can access a variety of resources to help them better manage their overall health and well-being.

This innovative Food Hub model is designed to address both the immediate needs that might bring people into the food pantry part of the Hub, for example, and providing them, while they are on-site, with a range of other nutrition and related services which may be required to truly eliminate nutrition deficiencies.

Visit the Phoenix Food Hub website for complete details and programs - www.phoenixfoodhub.org

In addition to services provided by Phoenix Food Hub, everyone has access to an on-site food pantry funded and operated by Catholic Charities. For hours of operation visit www.ccab.org/basic-needs/food-pantries/

Nutrition Education and Counseling

GLSS' Nutrition Department has Registered Dieticians on staff who provide nutrition counseling for a variety of health conditions, as well as weight loss and general healthy eating.  Nutrition counseling is a Medicare benefit for those with type 2 diabetes or chronic kidney disease but counseling can be provided to anyone.

Healthy Eating for Successful Living in Older Adults™ Workshop

Do you want to learn more about nutrition and healthy lifestyle?

Making small changes to your diet and lifestyle can make a big difference in how you feel.  The program focuses on heart-healthy and bone-healthy nutrition strategies to improve wellness and prevent disease.  This workshop is based on the USDA’s “MyPlate” program.  This program is part of the Model Programs Project sponsored by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) with funding from the John A. Hartford Foundation.  NCOA provides national leadership and oversight for the program originally developed by Lahey Clinic and now revised and administered by Hebrew Senior Life.

What participants say:  “I’m buying more fresh produce and eating fewer prepared foods.”

Download a brochure

Where can I get more information?

Call Jousette Anaya, Wellness Pathways Program Coordinator, at 781-586-8530 or e-mail janaya@glss.net.

Brown Bag/Mobile Markets Program

On the third Friday of each month from 9 to 11 A.M., residents of Lynn, Lynnfield, Nahant, Saugus, and Swampscott can pick up a bag of free groceries as part of Greater Boston Food Bank’s Brown Bag/Mobile Markets Program. Bags include both shelf-stable and fresh items. There are no age or income requirements for the program and there is no application process. Just sign up over the phone or in person when you come to the event. To learn more or to sign up, please call 781-599-0110 and ask for the Nutriton Department.