The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is a federally funded nutrition education program for limited-resource youth and families delivered through the Cooperative Extension Service in every state and U.S. territory.
EFNEP offers hands-on interactive workshops to help participants improve food and physical activity behaviors, food resource management, food safety, and food security. Programs serve income eligible parents, caregivers and expecting mothers, as well as children and teens.
Adult participants learn how to make food choices to improve the nutritional quality of the meals they serve their families. Through an experiential learning process, they increase their ability to select and buy food; gain skills in food preparation storage and sanitation; and learn to better manage their food budgets and related resources.
Youth participants are engaged in a series of lessons designed to develop mastery, belonging, independence, and generosity. In addition to nutrition, food preparation, and food safety, youth topics may also include strategies for reducing screen time and being more physically active.
EFNEP is delivered in a series of lessons, typically 6 – 9, facilitated by frontline educators who, for the most part, come from the communities they serve.
EFNEP In New York State
In New York State, EFNEP is administered by FNEC at Cornell University and delivered by Cornell Cooperative Extension in counties across New York State.
For more information: contact FNEC-admin@cornell.edu, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University.