OFA Champions Food Literacy with New Online Resource
Posted: March 21, 2016
Categories: Edible Education Network / GoodFoodBites / News from Sustain Ontario
A new food literacy site launched March 17 to help young people learn to make healthy food choices that will improve the future health of Ontarians. Promoting greater food literacy is the driver behind SixbySixteen.me which is designed to help Ontario teenagers learn to plan and prepare six nutritious meals by the time they are 16.
The site developed by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) builds on the existing resources of more than 20 industry partners to provide information in three main areas – learn how to cook from a library of quick and simple how-to videos, find local food and make healthy food choices with Ontario-grown food.
“The link between eating well and healthy living has never been stronger,” says Neil Currie, General Manager of OFA. “When we give future consumers the knowledge and skills to make healthy food choices – including many foods grown in Ontario – we are helping improve our health and ease the pressure on our health care system in the long run.” Health care research indicates that every $1 spent promoting healthy eating and physical activity saves up to $6 in chronic medical care costs.*
SixbySixteen.me is supported by Ontario commodity organizations and local food groups to spread the word about teaching young people to learn lifelong healthy habits that also support Ontario’s diverse agri-food sector. “We also are promoting the use of the healthy, local and abundant food produced in Ontario, and that will continue to fuel the economy,” says Currie.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is the leading advocate and largest organization for Ontario’s farmers, representing 36,000 farm families across the province. It works to champion the interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy recommendations, research, lobby efforts, community representation, media relations and more.
*Prevention for a Healthier America Report, February 2009