Healthy Meals, Healthy Minds Allowable Expenses

Healthy Meals, Healthy Minds Grant: Allowable Expenses

 

Program Purpose

The Healthy Meals, Healthy Minds Grant enhances services and support for family caregivers by enabling them to access nutritious meal kits and invest in their mental health and wellness through funding for supportive services.

 

1. Nutritious Meals as Respite

Grant funds may be used for pre-prepared, nutritionally balanced meals that provide caregivers with a genuine break from meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking.

 

Allowable

  • In-home prepared meals provided by a hired service or organization, not prepared by the caregiver or family member
  • Delivered meal kits from a vendor that provides ingredients and recipes, such as Hello Fresh, Blue Apron, or Orders Up

 

Not Allowable

  • Grocery-store deli or hot bar purchases
  • Restaurant or fast-food meals
  • Grocery items or meal kit pick-up orders that require the caregiver to shop or pick up in person

 

2. Mental Health and Wellness

Funds may also be used for activities or items that promote mental health and caregiver well-being. All items and services must be purchased from a legitimate commercial vendor and include clear proof of purchase.

Informal, non-commercial, or unverifiable items are not allowable expenses. This includes homemade materials, printed or downloaded online content, items provided by friends or family, unpaid or barter-based services, or materials without a dated invoice or receipt.

 

Allowable Expenses Include

  • Mental health counseling, in person or telehealth
  • Wellness classes, such as yoga or meditation
  • Gym or community center memberships
  • Self-help or caregiver-support books
  • Weighted blankets
  • Light therapy lamps
  • Virtual wellness subscriptions, such as Calm, Headspace, or similar services

 

Additional Notes

  • The goal of the Nutritious Meals as Respite category is to provide caregivers with meaningful relief from meal-related responsibilities.
  • HMHM is not intended as a grocery subsidy or a SNAP/food-share-style program.
  • Reimbursing deli meals would shift the program away from its approved focus on respite and caregiver well-being.
  • Approved meal services must include delivery directly to the home.
  • Purchases that require the caregiver to pick up meals, shop in person, or prepare food themselves do not meet the program’s intent.

 

Questions About Allowable Expenses?

If you have any questions about allowable expenses under the Healthy Meals, Healthy Minds Grant Program, RCAW encourages you to contact us before making a purchase. Email RCAW

 

This project is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $490,000 with 75 percentage funded by ACL/HHS and $142,933 and 25 percentage funded by non-government source(s).

The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ACL/HHS or the U.S. Government.