Our Community Nutrition Programs

OFS teaches kids, teens, families and adults how to plan, shop for and prepare healthy and delicious meals that are affordable. Education about shopping, cooking and nutrition helps build the food skills needed to put healthy meals on the table every day. Because low-income families are frequently preparing meals at home, strategies to help make home-cooked meals are critical in the fight to end childhood hunger.

Community Programs

woman and child cooking together

Healthy Eating Resources

This video series shares information about healthy food choices with people who may be food insecure, working to make healthy choices on a budget, or are interested in improving health through diet.

Learn more and watch episodes.

Watch Videos

Operation CHEF

Culinary Habits to Empower Families (CHEF) is a nutrition-focused cooking class designed to teach families at risk of hunger fundamental culinary skills through hands-on lessons with nutrition education weaved into every recipe, discussion and activity.

To learn more, please fill out our application.

Apply Today
OFS volunteer at food drive

Community Programs

These individual events create an interest in healthy eating for broad audiences in diverse community settings through simple recipes and helpful tips. Nutrition-focused culinary demonstrations and hands-on cooking classes empower participants with the skills, knowledge and confidence to make healthy, delicious and affordable meals.

To learn more, please fill out our application.

Apply Today
Chef educating volunteers about nutrition

Workplace Wellness

On average, Americans working full time spend more than one-third of the day, five days a week, at the workplace. The use of effective programs and policies in the workplace can reduce health risks and improve quality of life. We understand that workplace wellness programming and policies are not a one-size-fits-all approach and will work with you to create a personalized approach to combating your company’s specific health related disparities.

View our flyer to learn more.

Download Flyer
Volunteer at Local School

Food Pantry Focused

As a benefit to partnering with Operation Food Search, our Community Food Partner Agencies receive tailored nutrition education services free of charge. Services include onsite cooking demonstrations, recipe sampling, nutrition lessons and nutrition education materials. All educational services are customized to the food being distributed that day in food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters.

To learn more, visit our Nutrition Education for Agencies page.

Learn More

KEY FACTS

1,700+ individuals were empowered through our nutrition education programs across Missouri in 2021.
Our programs reached 21 counties in Missouri through a satellite network of trained nutrition educators.
More than 4,000 classes and store tours helped improve knowledge of cooking and shopping.