What is EFNEP?

EFNEP is Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Maryland at College Park and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Its mission is to help limited-income families and youth acquire knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behavior changes necessary to maintain nutritionally sound diets and enhance personal development.

In the past 25 years, EFNEP has benefited more than 55,000 families plus an additional 217,000 youth in Maryland. In 1999 alone, EFNEP Nutrition Assistants reached 3,029 families with 10,668 members in addition to 9,141 youth.

EFNEP Adults are taught in small groups or individually by Nutrition Assistants trained by Extension Educators. The majority of participants complete the EFNEP curriculum in less than 12 months.

• Make nutritious food choices;
  Manage food budgets and resources wisely;
• Improve prenatal nutrition and infant feeding practices;
• Adopt breastfeeding;
• Improve overall health and fitness through diet and exercise;
• Practice proper food safety, sanitation, and storage methods;

• Reduce risks of chronic diseases and their complications, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes through dietary changes and early diagnosis;
• Achieve lasting improvements in nutrition and food safety related behaviors.