In Lafayette County, 24.3% of children are food insecure, 51.1% of adolescents in Mississippi reported consuming fruit less than one time daily, and 44.8% reported consuming vegetables less than one time daily.  The Cooking Matters program teaches parents, their children, and caregivers with limited food budgets to shop for and cook healthy meals.  Cooking Matters for Chefs and Kids utilizes chef volunteers and provides food demonstrations, so children learn healthy food options and safe ways to prepare them.  Cooking Matters for Parents teaches parents to shop healthy on a budget and prepare more healthful meals for themselves and their children.  OFN will utilize both curricula and plans to provide healthy snacks for the youth.

In Mississippi, 25.9% of adolescents were physically active at
least 60 minutes per day, 7 days per week. OFN’s plan is to provide the Fit Games, and the Fit Camp as opportunities for youth to engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity twice per week.

Mississippi’s youth are 48th in the nation for mental wellbeing. OFN’s
plan is to engage Lafayette County youth with topics including stress relief,
mindfulness, and healthy coping strategies.