ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- A new community program was announced Wednesday between Arnot, Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Economic Opportunity Program, Inc. in hopes to combat food insecurity. The MEAL Program hopes to inspire mindful eating, and active lifestyles focusing on high health-risk and high poverty communities battling food insecurity. 

“When you begin to frame children you impact a society, you impact a community, you impact the families of course and we can then begin the address some of these issues of childhood obesity.” Andrea Ogunwumi, CEO of the Economic Opportunity Program, Inc., said. 

The MEAL Program hopes to inspire mindful eating, and active lifestyles, focusing on high health-risk and high poverty communities battling food insecurity.The program aims to introduce health eating and active living education to reduce the incidence of obesity in children. 

“Video games put a lot of kids in front of TVs we want them to stay active,” Tina said, adding, “It doesn't mean they have to stay active 24 hours a day, but they need to understand the importance of staying active as well as eating healthy.” 

Officials from all three organizations hope the program can be used to help children frame healthier habits early on in life. 

“As one of the largest health insurers here in the Southern Tier, it is very important to us to collaborate with our community partners who are in our community doing this work every single day to help improve the outcomes of those in our community,” Amber Granger, Community Investments & Partnerships Manager at Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, said. 

The Mindful Eating Active Lifestyle program is being supported by an $8,500 grant from Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield.