Nutrition
Meal & Nutrition Services
Nutrition Services for older adults in New Mexico is designed to:
- alleviate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition.
- Promote socialization among older individual.
- Enhance health and well-being by providing access to nutrition, health promotion, and disease prevention services, aimed at delaying the onset of chronic health conditions.
New Mexico offers both congregate and home-delivered meal programs.
A congregate meal is a nutritious meal provided at least once a day to eligible participants at designated nutrition sites, senior centers, or other communal settings. These programs facilitate positive social interactions among seniors, while congregate sites may also offer a range of health-related services, such as transportation, health screening, social service referrals, legal assistance, and opportunities for physical and social activities and volunteering.
The home-delivered meal program supplies a nutritious meal to eligible individuals at their residences. Meals are delivered by paid staff who also take the time to engage with the recipients, helping to decrease their feelings of isolation. They regularly check on the individual’s well-being and report any health concerns or issues identified during their visits.
Area Agency on Aging Collaboration
There are a variety of nutritional programs available through the collaboration with the Area Agency on Aging (AAA). The AAA is a public or nonprofit private organization designated by the State to assist older adults in planning and coordinating local services. Their mission includes advocating for the needs of older adults and providing information about available programs, options, and community resources.
For details on senior nutrition programs accessible in your community, please visit the correspondent to your county and the Area Agency on Aging website. Additionally, you may reach out to your local Senior Center for further information regarding senior nutrition initiatives in your area.
Helpful Nutrition Resources
New Mexico Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
New Mexico Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) offers eligible seniors, aged 60 and older, a monthly supply of nutritious food, to enhance their dietary intake through the distribution of a supplemental food box along with recipes and basic nutrition information. This program also provides referrals to additional resources for New Mexico residents who meet the income qualifications. For more information about CSFP, please visit the
Commodity Supplemental Food Program.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), previously referred to as the Food Stamp Program, offers financial assistance to eligible low-income individuals and families in New Mexico to help them acquire food products. SNAP benefits can be conveniently utilized to purchase qualifying food items at participating grocery stores and at participating farmers’ markets. Visit the SNAP program page at HCA to learn more.
Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB)
Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) is a program in New Mexico that matches SNAP/EBT dollars spent on fruits and vegetables with an equal dollar amount to purchase, locally grown produce; doubling the purchasing power for fresh produce at participating farmers’ markets. Double Up Food Bucks New Mexico
The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)
The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) provides eligible seniors who are residents of New Mexico with a stipend of up to $50. This program is available for individuals over the age of 60 who are non-Native American and those over 55 who are Native American. Participants can use these funds to purchase locally grown produce and honey from designated farmers’ markets, mobile markets, and roadside stands throughout the state. For more information, please visit the WIC and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs page.
FreshRX Program (Produce Prescription Program)
FreshRX Program (Produce Prescription Program) is a Produce Prescription Program, operated by the New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association (NMFMA), offers incentives for patients to enhance their existing medical care through the purchase of nutritious produce grown in New Mexico. For more information, please visit the New Mexico Farmers Market Association FReshrx page.
The Administration for Community Living (ACL)
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) offers health and wellness programs that focus on behavioral health, the prevention of injuries and illnesses, chronic disease self-management, and additional areas of health promotion. For further information, including links to explore various health and wellness programs and educational resources, please visit the ACL Health, Wellness and Nutrition page.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans provides advice on what to eat and drink to meet nutrient needs, promote health, and prevent disease. For more information, review the 2020-2025 Edition of the guidelines.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA)
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) promotes efforts to prevent and cure diabetes and works to improve the well-being of people with diabetes and their families. It provides professional education programs, patient information materials/programs, research grant awards, and public awareness about diabetes. Please visit the How to Eat Healthy page at the ADA website.
The American Heart Association (AHA)
The American Heart Association (AHA) is dedicated to promoting healthy living and advocating for policies that enhance cardiovascular health. To explore what are heart-healthy foods, find nutritious recipes, learn healthy habits, fitness tips, and stress management techniques, please visit the AHA website.
Non-Metro New Mexico Area Agency on Aging
Assisting Seniors and Older Adults in Need Throughout New Mexico in 32 Counties. Visit the NON METRO AAA website for more info.
Eligibility? What services are available?
The Commodity Senior Food Program (CSFP) Eligibility requirements include:
- Being 60 years of age or older
- Meeting specific income guidelines
- Providing a photo ID and proof of age
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/EBT)
To determine your eligibility for Nutrition Assistance, it is recommended that you submit an application for benefits and complete the application process. You may pre-screen for eligibility online before applying by visiting the link below.
Double-Up-Food-Bucks
If you are receiving SNAP benefits, you can start using Double Up Food Bucks right away. Please ensure you shop at a participating location. For a list of locations, please visit the link below.
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)
To qualify, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be 60 years of age or older (for non-Native American individuals) or
- Be 55 years of age or older (for Native American individuals) and
- Reside in New Mexico
- Have an income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level.
For more information on federal poverty levels, please visit the link below.
Fresh RX Program
Eligibility for the FreshRx produce prescription program, individuals must receive a prescription for fresh fruits and vegetables from a healthcare provider and meet certain criteria, including being food insecure, nutritionally at risk, or at risk for chronic health conditions. Patients interested in participating in the FreshRx program are encouraged to reach out to their local clinic for further information or reach out to the New Mexico Farmers Market Association.
Congregate & Home Delivered Meals:
Eligibility for theses meal programs extend to individuals age 60 and older and their spouses or caregivers can also receive a meal at adult nutrition meal sites throughout the state. A person who is age 60 or older may get home-delivered meals. The spouse or caregiver of a qualified homebound person, or a person age 59 and younger who is dependent on a qualified person who gets home-delivered meals, may also get home-delivered meals. Others who qualify are people with disabilities who live in congregate housing facilities for older adults and where a congregate meal site exists.
New Mexico Grown
The New Mexico Grown program is a state-funded initiative that facilitates local food purchasing for public institutions, such as schools and senior centers. This program aims to connect these institutions with local food producers to purchase and distribute fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and other minimally processed food items for senior meal programs.
By fostering partnerships between institutions and local food producers, New Mexico Grown enables schools and senior centers to access an array of locally sourced fruits, vegetables, minimally processed agricultural products, and meats for senior meal programs. The program offers financial awards to senior centers, allowing them to source food within their budgets while ensuring fair compensation for local food producers.
New Mexico Grown Eligibility
The New Mexico Grown grant program is available to all schools, early childhood education centers, and senior centers that provide meal and snack programs to community members. Awards are distributed annually and are determined based on meal counts.
If you would like to incorporate New Mexico Grown food items into your meal program, please reach out to your senior center manager. Visit the New Mexico Grown Program website for more information.