title: Nutrition for homeless populations: shelters and soup kitchens as opportunities for intervention.
abstract: Nutrition is a daily challenge for the homeless population in America. Homeless individuals suffer from a high prevalence of diseases related to poor diet, yet there has been little public health effort to improve nutrition in this population. Shelters and soup kitchens may have an untapped potential to impact food access, choice and quality. We offer ideas for intervention and lessons learned from ten shelters and soup kitchens around Greater Boston, MA, USA. By advancing food quality, education and policies in shelters and soup kitchens, the homeless population can be given an opportunity to restore its nutrition and health.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychiatry,Massachusetts General Hospital,Boston,MA 02114,USA.
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.affiliation: 3Massachusetts Department of Public Health,Boston,MA,USA.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bharel
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychiatry,Massachusetts General Hospital,Boston,MA 02114,USA.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Henderson
mesh_terms: D001900:Boston; D063105:Food Assistance; D063427:Food Quality; D005522:Food Services / Q000592:standards*; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health
keywords: Homeless; Nutrition; Shelters; Soup kitchens