Senior Nutrition Program Short-Form Video Prompts

Short-form videos (e.g., Reels, Shorts) are among the most engaging content on social media. The prompts below can help programs capture authentic moments that highlight impact, build trust, and bring stories to life. They encourage participants, staff, and volunteers to share real experiences, highlighting not just what local nutrition programs do but also their critical role in communities nationwide. Use these prompts as written or adapt them to better fit your program and style. Adding #SeniorNutritionProgram to your post caption can help more people find your content.

As a general rule, shorter videos perform best. For quick quotes, reactions, or single moments, try to keep videos under 15 seconds. For short testimonials or “day in the life” clips, aim for 30 seconds or less. If a story needs more time, consider breaking it into a short series rather than one long video. For best results, film vertically, capture clear audio, and add captions or on-screen text for accessibility.

These ideas need minimal editing and can often be done directly on mobile phones and within social media platforms. For extra edits, many free apps let you trim clips, add text, and include captions.

For more activity ideas, promotion tips, and ready-to-use materials, visit acl.gov/snp/celebrate.

Participants

 

1. Favorite part of the program
   “My favorite part of the program is…” (e.g., food, friendships, activities)
2. A special moment
   “One moment here that made me smile was…”
3. In one word
   “If I could describe this program in one word, it would be…”
    

Program staff

 

1. Day in the life
   Show short clips throughout the day that begin with on-screen text like “What I do before doors open” or “What I do during program hours.” 
2. Why this work matters
   “The most rewarding part of my job is…”
3. Behind the scenes
   Capture prep, planning, and team moments with a caption like: “How we make it happen” or “Behind the scenes of a senior nutrition program in (fill in the blank with city).”
    

Volunteers

 

1. Favorite part about volunteering
   “My favorite part about volunteering here is…”
2. First day vs. now
   “Before I started volunteering, I didn’t realize… Now I know…”
3. Small moments, big impact
   Show quick clips of interactions paired with text: “This is why I keep coming back.”
    

Community/program impact

 

1. Numbers to life
   Pair a stat (e.g., number of meals served) with a short clip to bring it to life. 
2. Before and after
   Footage of the program space before participants arrive vs. after it’s full
3. Did you know?
   “Did you know this program…?” with relevant footage.
    

Using social media trends

Social media trends are constantly emerging. Many of these trends can be adapted to fit a variety of content, including posts for a senior nutrition program. Using trends helps programs connect with audiences in fun, relatable ways. Watch what’s popular and consider how you could use it to create fresh, engaging posts. Here are a few examples:

1. Point of view 
   Show participant or staff perspective during an activity (e.g., “POV: you work at a senior nutrition program in Cincinnati”)
2. This or that
   Give two options (e.g., meals, snacks, activities, games) and ask people to pick their favorite.
3. Voiceovers
   Quick clips of staff/participants/volunteers with a trending audio explaining the moment.

You can also use the national Senior Nutrition Program anniversary in March to inspire ideas. For example, “The 202X theme of the Senior Nutrition Program anniversary is (fill in the blank). What does that mean to you?”