Child Nutrition

Goals & Objectives

The Child Nutrition Programme is designed to evaluate nutrition education and food distribution efforts among Ontario Friendship Centres.

Programme Summary

The Child Nutrition Programme works with project staff in Red Lake, North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins and Thunder Bay to assist in the improvement of nutritional resources available to Friendship Centres and to aid in obtaining food security.

Focus on Success

Approaching food and product manufacturers for donations, developing healthy meal plan guidelines for Friendship Centres, establishing linkages with provincial organizations and governments regarding food security and locating and researching Aboriginal specific resources and best practices related to food security are just some of the functions undertaken by the programme.

Development

Poverty is a major contributing factor to nutritional deficiencies. It is also a major factor in hindering educational attainment, including proper nutrition. The OFIFC continues to participate with partners in various child and poverty-specific coalitions including The Middle Years Matter coalition, the Hands Off Campaign, and Campaign 2000's efforts to address child poverty at the Federal and Provincial level as well as the 25 in 5 campaign which recently successfully pushed for poverty reduction to remain a provincial priority in the current constrained fiscal climate.

The OFIFC continues to distribute the Community Gardens Manual to all who request it and it remains popular.

The Child and Youth Policy Analyst collaborates with various OFIFC programmes to ensure that nutrition