Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program

The purpose of this funding is to increase the impact of nutrition education disseminated to low-income families and youth in the 50 States, the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. EFNEP serves two primary low-income audiences: 1) families with young children (parents and other caregivers with primary responsibility for feeding young children); and 2) youth/children (grade range - kindergarten through 12th grade). The priorities of EFNEP are to assist low-income families and youth in acquiring knowledge, skills, attitudes, and changed behaviors necessary for nutritionally sound diets and to contribute to their personal development and improvement of the total family diet and nutritional well-being. Participation in EFNEP should result in improved diets and nutritional well-being of the total family. Individuals and families should experience improvements in four core areas: Diet Quality and Physical Activity—Improved diets and nutritional and physical well-being through the adoption of Federal food and physical activity recommendations. Food Resource Management—Increased ability to buy, grow, or otherwise appropriately obtain, prepare, and store food that meets nutritional needs. Food Safety—Improved household food safety and sanitation practices. Food Security—Increased ability to get food directly—and from food assistance programs where necessary—to ensure having enough healthy food to eat.