Wiser Dining

Wiser Dining is a transformative initiative designed specifically for congregate meal sites. Our goal is to help partners cultivate dining environments that are guest-centered, health-promoting, and inclusive.

Through a structured, self-paced training, Wiser Dining empowers sites to enhance five core intervention areas:

Guest Feedback: Integrating community voices and lived experiences of those you serve.
Cuisine, Nutrition Education, and Physical Movement: Creating opportunities for health and wellness through food and movement.
Site Environment: Supporting a welcoming, dignified atmosphere.
Social and Community Connections: Fostering belonging and engagement.
Policies and Procedures: Standardizing processes for long-term impact and sustainability.

Wiser Dining Site Process:

1. 1. Site Overview and Needs Assessment

      • Schedule a phone or site visit to review the Wiser Dining process and answer questions
      • Complete Site Overview & Needs Assessment
      • Schedule regular (e.g. monthly) check-ins

   2. Goal Setting

      • Use the Site Overview & Needs Assessment responses to create a Wiser Dining Work Plan
        • Indicate activities sites are fully or partially implementing and those that they would like to work on through the Wiser Dining program
        • Use “Other” to record activities sites are already doing or would like to do that are not listed

   3. Implementation

      • Use available resources to support the implementation of Wiser Dining goals

   4. Graduation

      • Complete Wiser Dining Work Plan activities
      • Celebrate and share your Wiser Dining work with clients, staff, and the community