August 19, TORONTO – Community Food Centres Canada is pleased to announce $1.2 million in funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada that will support community organizations across Canada to offer FoodFit, a healthy eating and physical activity program aimed at low-income youth and adults. More than 30 grants will fund trained coordinators to run the program in partnership with local organizations. Funding will also support ongoing program evaluation and curriculum updates, and the development of a trainer network.
FoodFit was developed by Community Food Centres Canada in consultation with health, nutrition and physical activity experts and community members. The 12-week program strives to reach low-income individuals who experience barriers around healthy eating and physical activity but who are motivated to make lasting changes to their health.
FoodFit combines fun, hands-on cooking sessions and food-based activities with take-home recipes, easy-to-understand nutrition information, group exercise, shared meals, self-directed individual and group goal-setting, and reflection and feedback loops that monitor and reinforce individual and group progress. FoodFit focuses on offering simple, useful tools like walking, choosing more fruit and vegetables and gaining practical cooking skills to help people make realistic and sustainable change.
“Diet-related illnesses and chronic conditions are at historic highs among low-income people who struggle to access healthy food. Even as we continue to work toward a time when everyone can afford the food they need, FoodFit will empower people to make sustainable changes in their lives while also connecting them to broader community and social supports,” said Kathryn Scharf, Chief Operating Officer of Community Food Centres Canada.
FoodFit has been offered through by Community Food Centres and Good Food Organizations in Toronto, Calgary, Stratford, Perth and Kamloops since 2014. Results to date have shown measurable changes in the health and wellbeing of participants. The significant expansion of the program made possible by this new funding will result in better food skills and nutrition knowledge, increased confidence in food choices, and better health for thousands of Canadians from coast to coast.
“The Government of Canada is pleased to renew its investment in the Community Food Centres Canada FoodFit program. Learning about nutrition and preparing healthy foods as well as the benefit of physical activity are essential building blocks in achieving good physical health and wellbeing, and an important way to prevent chronic diseases,” said the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health