Overview

Overview

Food literacy means having the knowledge, attitudes and skills needed to grow, choose, prepare and enjoy food to best support one’s health. A lack of understanding about food and nutrition, a lack of food preparation skills, and a lack of knowledge about where your food comes from can make it challenging to make healthy choices.

Six by Sixteen

Six by Sixteen is a collaborative program that OFA launched with more than 20 industry partners to teach young people how to plan and prepare six nutritious (and locally sourced) meals by the time they are 16 years old.

SixbySixteen.me is an online gateway to an extensive library of Canadian resources including how-to cooking videos, recipes and where to source local Ontario grown products. The online hub was created for parents, health professionals and young teens to promote local food and healthy food choices.

HomeGrown

OFA launched the HomeGrown campaign to engage with consumers on where their food comes from and encourage support for Ontario farmers and farmland. Over 70,000 Ontarians have signed on to support farmers and the fresh, local food grown right here at home.

OFA Position

OFA strongly believes food literacy contributes to lifelong well-being, a sustainable health care system, and support for our agri-food sector. OFA wants food literacy programs amplified in our schools to teach Ontario’s youth to make better, healthier food choices.

OFA encourages the Ontario government to implement a strong food literacy component in the school curriculum. OFA believes the province should engage in a long-term effort to improve food literacy and access to food across Ontario.