Background

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the UnitedNations¹

There is an abundance of evidence showing that food insecurity has negative impacts on health, development, and educational outcomes for children.²  While "low income is the single greatest predictor of food insecurity",² many people also lack knowledge or skills to choose and prepare nutritious food.³

Many youth, especially those in single-parent homes or living on their own, are responsible for accessing and preparing their own food. Because of an increased dependence on convenience foods (such as frozen meals, heat and serve items, and boxed food items) and frequent dining outside the home (especially fast food), many of today's youth lack basic functional food selection and preparation skills. Interventions that increase food skills have the potential to improve food choices and confidence in food preparation. ^2-4