The Extension Food and Nutrition Education Program
The University of Arizona 

THE MISSION OF EFNEP

The Nutrition, Diet and Health program provides individuals, families, and communities with the knowledge and skills that empower them to make informed choices about food and other lifestyle issues that support their health and economic and social well-being.

What is EFNEP?

The Extension Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) teaches families with children to stretch their limited food dollars, plan and prepare nutritious foods and improve their nutritional status and health.

The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension operates EFNEP in Pima, Pinal, & Maricopa Counties with 21 paraprofessionals and 600 volunteers. EFNEP is federally funded through USDA and receives about $540,000 yearly for operations.

EFNEP teaches families & Youth how to:

-  Improve family nutrition and health;
-  Increase the consumption of foods high in calcium and fruits and vegetables;
-  Reduce food costs through alternate sources of high protein foods;
-  Reduce the consumption of foods high in fat, sodium, and sugar;
-  Shop and buy food wisely using food labels to determine nutritional content;
-  Plan their food needs before shopping and using the 
-  Handle food properly and improve sanitation.

EFNEP Nutrition Educators follow a Nutrition Curriculum Series for Adults-EATING RIGHT IS BASIC. The Youth EFNEP curriculum varies in the counties.

An EFNEP participant completes between 6 and 16 lessons before graduation from the program.

EFNEP cooperates with other agencies and private groups in order to implement the program in a more efficient manner. EFNEP works with other food assistance programs such as WIC and Food Stamps. Other public and private groups include HeadStart, schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA, and Teen Parent Programs.

The delivery of Youth EFNEP takes on various forms. EFNEP provides education at schools as part of the curriculum or as after school programs. Community and neighborhood centers as well as traditional 4-H clubs provide outlets for EFNEP Youth.

EFNEP Yearly Impacts:

Between 2,500-3,000 families participate which affects more than 11,000 family members.

Before participation in EFNEP, 28% were eating 3 meals a day-after participation, 59% were.

More than 82% of participants showed improvement in one or more nutrition practices C plans meals, makes healthy food choices, prepares foods without salt, eats breakfast, or reads food labels and 52%showed improvement in food safety practices-thawing and storing food properly.

National EFNEP 
www.reeusda.gov/1700/programs/nutrition.htm 

http://www.reeusda.gov/f4hn/efnep/efnep.htm

College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Extension:  ag.arizona.edu/extension

Department of Nutritional Sciences:  http://ag.arizona.edu/NSC/new/index.htm 

If we can work together to help families improve their nutrition in your area, please call EFNEP in your county.

Food and Nutrition Information Center http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/pubs/bibs/gen/lowlit.html

Nutrition Connection - Food Stamp  http://www.nal.usda.gov/foodstamp/

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This page was updated on 3/14/2001