A new initiative to help young people make healthy food choices was launched Oct. 6 as part of Ontario Agriculture Week.
Six by Sixteen is a new food literacy program developed by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) to teach young people how to plan and prepare six nutritious (and locally sourced) meals by the time they are 16 years old. OFA has created an online hub of resources for parents, health professionals and young teens to promote local food and healthy food choices.
“We’ve partnered with commodity groups to use the tremendous amount of materials already available to help Ontario’s younger generation learn how to make healthy choices,” says Don McCabe, OFA president. “When we teach our children to make good food choices, we prepare them for a lifetime of health.”
OFA, along with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) identified the importance of food literacy in the National Food Strategy, a vision for food and agriculture in Canada that is meant to guide policy development in the food system. OFA’s launch of Six by Sixteen is part of the organization’s efforts to strengthen food literacy.
“Having knowledge of local food and supporting the industry that grows local food helps strengthen our communities, supports a sustainable environment, creates jobs and boosts our local economies. Industry initiatives, such as the Six by Sixteen campaign, are positive ways to create awareness of both healthy eating and the good things that grow, right here, in Ontario,” says Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
