GUELPH, ON [March 17, 2016] – A new food literacy site launched today 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 – the new site developed by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA).
Food literacy is a key objective in the National Food Strategy®, developed by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture with OFA. The new Six by Sixteen site is designed to help Ontario teenagers learn to plan and prepare six nutritious meals by the time they are 16.
“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. We are also promoting the use of the healthy, local and abundant food produced in Ontario, and that will continue to fuel the economy.”
Health care research* has estimated that every $1 spent promoting healthy eating and physical activity saves up to $6 in chronic medical care costs. OFA and partners are stepping up to link Ontario youth with existing resources to help them make healthy, lifelong choices about food. The site 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.
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.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is the largest general farm organization in Ontario, representing 36,000 farm families across the province. As a dynamic farmer-led organization based in Guelph, OFA works to represent and champion the interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy recommendations, research, lobby efforts, community representation, media relations and more. OFA is the leading advocate for Ontario’s farmers and is Ontario’s voice of the farmer.
For more information:
Don McCabe
President
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-331-6175
Neil Currie
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883
*Prevention for a healthier America Report, February 2009