Which of the following is a goal of community food and nutrition programs?

• A. Decrease risk of malnutrition
• B. Increase food insecurity
• C. Worsen dietary alignment with DGA
• D. Increase avoidable admissions to hospital/PAC settings

Answer: (A)

Preventing malnutrition is the central aim of community food and nutrition programs. These programs work to identify people at risk and remove barriers to access nutritious foods, provide meals or groceries when needed, and offer nutrition education that supports healthy eating patterns. By improving both access and knowledge, they help ensure adequate caloric and nutrient intake, which lowers the likelihood of malnutrition and supports overall health, functional ability, and quality of life in the community.

Choosing alternatives would undermine that purpose. Increasing food insecurity makes it harder for people to obtain enough food and nutrients. Worsening dietary alignment with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans would likely reduce diet quality and health outcomes. Increasing avoidable hospital or post-acute care admissions signals worse health, not a goal of these programs.