National organization providing support and resources such as grants and curriculums for schools, professionals, and communities to promote healthy eating and physical activity. Visit the website for a resource library in English and Spanish with wellness advocacy data, curriculum ideas, and printable activities.
actionforhealthykids.org
This website is a great source of verified health information for parents on a wide range of health topics, such as healthy living, family life, immunizations, child development, and medical conditions. They offer articles with topics including safety, fitness, school issues, dating, substance abuse, emotional wellness, psychiatric medications, grief and more. You can also use the website to find a pediatrician in your zip code.
healthychildren.org
This organization is the publisher for the official guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC). Use the website to find CPR and Basic Life Support (BLS) trainings near you, or to purchase training materials. They also have helpful information on heart-healthy living (such as eating, fitness, quitting smoking), heart conditions (heart attack and stroke symptoms, congenital heart defects, and more), and tools for healthcare professionals and educators.
(800) 242-8721
Main Website: heart.org
CPR Classes: cpr.heart.org
This church provides several important community programs in the Merion Village neighborhood of Columbus, along with worship services. Programs include daily Fresh Markets with free produce for income-eligible individuals, nutrition education, free health and wellness classes, community events, an after-school program at Lincoln Park Elementary, Free Store, and ID 4 All People.
Fresh Market Website: heal4allpeople.org/all-people-s-fresh-market
Main Website: 4allpeople.org
Provides recipes and nutrition education to help make healthy eating accessible for all families. The website has helpful articles written by their team of doctors on how to feed your baby, picky eating, cooking tips, meal planning, and more. Use the Meal-o-Matic tool to create an easy recipe for your family based on what ingredients you have in your pantry. Schools and professionals can use their free printable toolkits or purchase their NAEYC-approved curriculums.
(540) 834-6306
doctoryum.org
Provides nutrition and healthy eating tips, recipes, articles and more from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The website has helpful information on a wide variety of topics, including nutrition for kids and seniors, managing weight and health conditions through food, cultural cuisines, and LGBTQ+ health. Use the online directory to find a registered dietician near you.
eatright.org
Provides feeding and healthy eating information and tips for families and professionals based on the Ellyn Satter models of positive and joyful eating.
ellynsatterinstitute.org
Provides community programming for families on the South side of Columbus. Programs include a free fresh market, urban gardening, cooking classes, family fitness classes, access to healthcare through OSU Wexner Medical Center Community Care Coach and family gatherings. FACCES Life Ready Urban Gardening Class is a free, weekly program for youth to learn about how to grow their own food, careers in agriculture, and environmental stewardship. They offer additional Afterschool programs and an Afterschool Cafe with free meals for children ages 1-18. Go online to register for programs and find upcoming events.
2515 Lockbourne Road, Columbus, OH 43207
(614) 319-6070
thefacces.org
Offers family-friendly exhibits, classes, workshops, and summer camps in gardening, cooking, fine art, and wellness. Check the website Calendar for upcoming events and classes, which are sometimes free. General admission is free on the first Sunday of the month for Community Day. Active or Retired service members get $1 off each ticket. SNAP, EBT, WIC and Medicaid recipients get tickets for $3 each with ID and proof of participation. Visit the website for a full list of Admission Discount programs.
1777 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43203
(614) 715-8000
fpconservatory.org
This urban farm, located West of downtown Columbus, provides connection through farming, gardening, and education. Order online to access affordable, locally-grown produce. Anyone can visit their U-PICK garden to harvest the produce they need, for free. They also train community gardeners in communities experiencing food deserts, post free healthy recipes, provide after-school and recreational programs, and host regular community events, such as community Tea Time every Thursday.
867 West Town Street, Columbus, Ohio 43222
(614) 233-1887
franklintonfarms.org
Provides programs and education on nutrition, wellness and arts in Columbus. Their programs bring together community members of all ages to participate activities such as crafts, open mics, exercise, nutrition / wellness education and more. Go online to volunteer or find their next event.
sites.google.com/view/growin-cbus/home
This website was created by a pediatrician to help break down the science behind nutrition and weight management. The website has free science courses on Nutrition & Weight Management, General Exercise, and Childhood Obesity. They also post educational videos on Youtube. The Full courses are a good fit for students or professionals, while the Condensed courses may be more helpful for families looking for an overview of the science.
Website: healthierwithscience.com
Youtube: youtube.com/channel/UCrUPKyjMCWMLdqmf6SCWkgQ
Combats childhood obesity through programs aimed at teaching youth and families healthy lifestyle habits. They provide free resources for parents, schools, and community organizations such as downloadable lesson plans, activities, and Parent Guides focused on physical activity, healthy eating, and achieving personal goals.
(602) 252-3453
healthylifestars.org
Provides programs for food education, advocacy, and to improve food access for families in Columbus. They host free and low-cost community cooking classes for individuals and families to learn basic cooking skills, nutrition, and meal-planning while eating and enjoying demonstrations. They also offer classes at their learning gardens, youth summer programs, and in-school programs for pre-K through high school. Veggie Van Pop-Ups deliver affordable produce and meal kits at various locations in Columbus. The Veggie Van accepts SNAP/EBT, WIC, and participates in the SNAP/EBT Produce Perks program. Local Matters also runs Columbus Food Rescue, a program that accepts donations from individuals and small businesses to rescue food from landfills.
633 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43206
(614) 263-5662
local-matters.org
Program: Non-profit offering a wide range of services for the entire family including; comprehensive primary care, OB/GYN, dental, vision, pharmacy (prescriptions are available at reduced cost), nutrition and spiritual care. Behavioral health services include psychiatry/medication management, therapeutic clinical counseling, and integrative social work.
Eligibility: Infants, children and adults
Cost: Government insurance (Medicaid, Medicare), Private insurance, Self-pay with sliding fee scale for those without insurance.
(614) 274-1455
llchc.org
An urban farmer’s market based in the Whitehall neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. Find locally grown produce and specialty, handmade items while listening to music from local performers. The Power of Produce program offers themed activities and nutrition education for kids through partnership with Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The market accepts SNAP/EBT/SUN Bucks, Produce Perks, and credit cards. The market is open most Tuesday evenings during the summer. For questions, contact Whitehall Parks and Recreation Department.
4657 East Broad Street, Whitehall, Ohio 43213
(614) 338-3100
whitehall-oh.us/473/Our-Community
Community health and wellness center providing free holistic health and wellness programs in an inclusive space. Programs include cooking and nutrition, diabetes prevention, exercise classes, wellness and stress management, financial education, healthy babies, and mom support groups. The Cooking Demo & Discussion Course includes a live cooking demo, sample of the recipe, meal kit, and entry for a free kitchen appliance for attendees who make the recipe at home. Go online to find healthy recipes, program descriptions, and to register for a program.
(614) 234-4660
777 West State Street, Columbus, Ohio 43222
mountcarmelhealth.com/about-us/community-benefit/outreach-programs/healthy-living-center
MyPlate is the official visual guide for modern healthy eating from the USDA (previously the food pyramid). MyPlate makes it easy to remember to choose healthy foods and portions, and is easily customizable for your age or health concerns. The website has helpful information on healthy eating, nutrition throughout life stages and pregnancy, recipes and tutorials, and tools for professionals. Take the online quiz or use the MyPlate app to set and track your personal nutrition goals.
choosemyplate.gov
Provides comprehensive care for children ages 2 and older to combat obesity and help families build healthy lifestyles. The website has helpful information for families and providers on nutrition, physical activity, managing obesity, and surgical options.
(614) 722-4824
nationwidechildrens.org/center-for-healthy-weight-nutrition
A free, monthly e-newsletter written by pediatric specialists. Sign up to get expert insights on trending wellness topics straight to your inbox.
nationwidechildrens.org/e-newsletter-sign-up
This website from Nemours Children’s Health offers tons of important health information for kids, teens, and their parents. Kids can find fun videos on how the body works and approachable answers to questions like, how do casts work? The Teen website covers topics like depression, sexual health, smoking, coping with cliques, binge drinking, body image and much more. Parents can find medically-reviewed articles on how vaccines work, how to choose a car seat, developmental milestones, supporting kids’ emotional wellbeing, healthy eating, and more. Educators can also find free health-related lesson plans for PreK-12.
Kids: kidshealth.org/en/kids
Teens: kidshealth.org/en/teens
Parents: kidshealth.org/en/parents
Offers helpful information for parents and healthcare providers to promote healthy habits and prevent obesity. Click the links under Parent, Caregiver & Provider Resources for printable handouts in English and Spanish on topics including breastfeeding, stress-free mealtime, meal planning, nutrition, positive parenting tips, and encouraging physical activity.
ohioaap.org/education-cme-moc-ii/parenting-at-mealtime-and-playtime
The OSU College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences works with families, farmers, business owners, and community leaders to offer programs for community enrichment across Ohio. Programs in Franklin County include:
2548 Carmack Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210
(614) 866-6900
franklin.osu.edu/program-areas
A network of partners in the South Side of Columbus working to holistically improve quality of life for residents. Their website has resources for finding healthcare, healthy eating, resilience, mental and physical wellness, and managing chronic conditions. Use their Resource Map to locate food assistance, childcare, healthcare, legal help, and more in the South Side. They also host community conversations and helpful trainings for professionals. Go online to contact the organization.
southsidethrive.org
This office oversees safety for food, dietary supplements, drugs, medical devices, vaccines, cosmetics, tobacco products, and some animal/pet products. Visit the website for helpful information on consumer safety, and current product recalls and advisories.
(888) 463-6332
Report a Problem with FDA-regulated Products: safetyreporting.hhs.gov/smarthub#
Main Website: fda.gov
Use this website to learn about federal nutrition guidelines and nutrition assistance programs, including SNAP, WIC, school and summer nutrition, and disaster assistance.
fns.usda.gov
This website from the National Institutes of Health offers resources for parents to help children 8-13 years old maintain a healthy weight and live an active lifestyle. Find helpful articles and printable worksheets on healthy eating, play and physical activity, and screen time.
nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/wecan