A local nonprofit is promoting healthy eating for seniors. 

Shelly Tolly with OSF HealthCare Peace Meal reminds listeners that Peace Meal is a service for seniors that will deliver nutritious and premade meals right to their home. The organization serves over 1,700 meals a day to elderly folks in seven counties. They also have a restaurant program in Farmer City that allows seniors to eat out at an extremely discounted price. 

The Home Delivery Program is for people who have health or mobility issues that limit their ability to get out of the house. Tolly notes that the resident is assigned a driver who will always be the one to deliver their meals, to provide consistency. 

Another goal of Peace Meal is to encourage independence in seniors. Tolly explains that isolation can be detrimental to a person's health, so they are trying to give seniors a reason to get out of the house and socialize. Even just the interactions with the home delivery drivers can make a big difference. 

Many communities in central Illinois are referred to as "food deserts" meaning they have limited access to affordable and nutritious foods. Peace Meal is taking steps to bring food to these communities by opening up new sites. 

If you or someone close to you would like to receive a meal or learn more about the program, call 309-665-5900.