652 Elizabeth Street

London, Ontario

N5Y 6L3

 

(519) 432-1801

lcrc@lcrc.on.ca

Bringing together individuals, organizations and

 

          resources to foster community action

 

What is a Community Food Advisor?

The Middlesex London Community Food Advisor (CFA) Program provides,

through trained volunteers, reliable information and education that

promote safe and nutritious food selection, preparation and storage

practices. Through this volunteer peer education program, volunteers who

have a love of food and some knowledge and skills in food handling are

provided with technical and leadership training.  Upon successful

completion of their training, the volunteer peer educators become

certified as Community Food Advisors and volunteer in the community to

improve and promote safe and healthy food selection, preparation, and

storage practices.  Community Food Advisors are recertified on an annual

basis based on completion of community placements and education

updates.

Why Peer Education?

Many people in Ontario have a wide range of food related skills and knowledge

that they have gained through cultural, religious, occupational, education and family

experiences.  They are a valuable community resource. Volunteer peer educators

understand their community and often know what will and will not be effective. 

Research and past experiences show that individuals in communities are often

more open to receiving information from peers.  With a broader outreach, more

people can benefit from the services offered by volunteer peer educators such as

Community Food Advisors.  CFAs complement existing nutrition and food safety

professionals and programs in the community.

The CFA program was piloted in 1992 in three communities in Ontario –

Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox & Addington (KFL&A), Middlesex-London,

and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph.  Since 1992, 23 communities have participated

in the CFA program and 2500+ volunteers have been trained.

CFAs work with a variety of people and groups and in a variety of settings

addressing the needs of each particular community - children, adolescents, adults,

seniors, community centers, food banks, collective kitchens, schools, farmers’

markets, social services.

The activities and topics that CFAs conduct in each community will differ

depending on the specific needs and make up of that community.