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The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP):


The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), established in 1969, is the first federal nutrition education initiative in the United States designed specifically for low-income families and youth. Administered through the Cooperative Extension System and funded by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), EFNEP operates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and six U.S. territories. Since its inception, EFNEP has reached over 34 million individuals, helping them improve dietary habits, food safety practices, physical activity levels, and food resource management.

EFNEP programming is delivered through a hands-on, peer-educator model that emphasizes experiential learning. Adult participants typically engage in a series of lessons focused on preparing nutritious meals, budgeting for groceries, and practicing safe food handling. Youth programming is equally robust, with curricula such as Teen Cuisine, Show Me Nutrition, and Fuel for Life, which teach cooking skills, nutrition basics, and physical activity through interactive activities tailored to different age groups.

In addition to direct education, EFNEP integrates Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) change efforts to amplify its impact. These efforts aim to create sustainable improvements in community settings where participants live, learn, work, and play. EFNEP professionals collaborate with local coalitions and organizations to influence food environments, promote physical activity, and support long-term health outcomes. While peer educators focus on teaching, professional staff lead PSE initiatives, ensuring that EFNEP’s reach extends beyond individual behavior change to broader community transformation.


Core Areas of Program Objectives:

  • Improve Diet Quality and Physical Activity
  • Food Resource Managment
  • Food Safety
  • Food Security

Target Audience and Eligibility Requirements:

  • As a federally funded grant program, we uphold the core value of equitable access for all individuals. Participation in EFNEP and its associated benefits is guaranteed without discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability. This foundational commitment to inclusivity is shared across the entire Cooperative Extension System and reflects our dedication to serving diverse communities with integrity and respect.
        • Specifically, Primary EFNEP Audiences Include:
            • Low-income parents and other adult caregivers (such as grandparents and guardians) who have primary responsibility for obtaining and preparing food for their children, with emphasis on families and caregivers of young children.
            • Low-income pregnant women/teens.
            • Low-income young adults between 17 years and 25 years of age with or without children.
            • Low-income adolescent youth (middle school through high school—ages 13-18 years).
            • Low-income children and pre-adolescent youth (kindergarten through elementary school— ages 5-12 years).
        • Secondary Audiences Include:
            • Community organizations and agencies that serve low-income youth and families, along with non-participating low- income individuals and families who would benefit from positive changes to the food and physical activity environment and policy or procedural decisions of key stakeholders and decision-makers.



Parishes that EFNEP serves:

  • Acadia
  • Bossier
  • Caddo
  • Calcasieu
  • East Baton Rouge
  • Jefferson
  • Lafayette
  • Orleans
  • St. Landry

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Citations:

Innovate . Educate . Improve Lives

The LSU AgCenter and the LSU College of Agriculture

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