A few years ago, the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) in Sheboygan County had a change to their senior dining sites. The number of sites were reduced overall. In addition, some sites remained the same traditional senior meal site set-up, while others transitioned to a “restaurant/cafe style”. Each year, the local FoodWIse program teaches in-person nutrition education classes at each senior meal site throughout the county. However, the new restaurant/cafe style posed a challenge to offer in-person classes. As a result, the FoodWIse program wanted to find a way to still provide important health and nutrition information to those dining at the sites not receiving in-person classes. 

Each month the FoodWIse team develops a resource that is designed to be used as a meal placemat at the restaurant/cafe style sites. The placemats include a health and/or nutrition topic, along with an activity for the older adults to do while they are eating their meals. The topics are timely, including information based on the season or time of the year. The topics are also relevant, including information that may be important to older aged populations. This includes information on eating less sodium, cooking for one, or using the Senior Farmers Market Voucher Program (SFMVP) at the local farmers market.