Every day in the United States, families face tough food choices such as how to stretch a food budget, how to make healthy meals their children will actually eat, and how to safely store and prepare food. For more than 50 years, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) administered by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has helped families and youths make those choices easier.
Established in 1969 with a $30 million investment from Congress, EFNEP is one of the first federal programs to directly address food and nutrition insecurity through education. Over the decades, EFNEP has reached nearly 36 million families and youths across the country.
Most EFNEP participants live at or below the poverty line. Almost 80% of those who reported income earned less than $31,200 a year for a family of four. Many families juggle low wages, food insecurity and chronic health issues. EFNEP provides support with practical, science-based education on eating healthy, shopping smart, staying active and keeping food safe.
“Having worked at the university level and now at the federal level with this community, I have seen firsthand how EFNEP is a precedent-setting program that plays a vital role in improving the lives of participants and our peer-educators,” said NIFA National Program Leader Dr. Carinthia Cherry.
In 2024, EFNEP continued its mission of improving food and nutrition security with $70 million in federal funding that helped equip eligible families with practical skills and knowledge. Land-grant University and Extension professionals reached more than 275,000 people with free, hands-on nutrition education, according to the 2024 EFNEP Impact Report.
Improved Health and Grocery Bills
One of EFNEP’s biggest impacts is helping families stretch their food dollars. In 2024, program graduates reported saving more than $764,000 on groceries by using smart shopping strategies. Participants applied what they learned, such as reading unit prices, planning meals ahead of time and buying healthier foods on a budget. As a result, more than 96% of adult participants reported improving their diets, including eating more fruits and vegetables. They also made strides in food safety (78%), physical activity (74%) and food resource management (92%).
Young people also saw gains. EFNEP reached students in middle and high school with engaging lessons that emphasized nutrition, food prep and exercise. More than 85% percent of youth participants improved their knowledge of healthy food choices, and 59% showed greater understanding of physical activity. Many children brought their knowledge home, encouraging healthier habits across entire families.
EFNEP’s impact can be seen in the stories of its participants. In Minnesota, two peer educators co-taught a class of single mothers and their children, focusing on turning mealtime into quality family time. The children loved helping prepare meals, especially chopping vegetables and mixing spice blends, and their excitement inspired their moms to continue cooking together at home.
At the University of Nevada, a mother joined EFNEP classes after realizing her young son was struggling with the same weight issues she had faced. Through Spanish-language virtual lessons, she learned to plan meals using MyPlate and pay attention to nutrition labels. The changes they made, including eating more fruits and vegetables and controlling portions improved their health and their grocery bills.
And in Texas, a grocery store conversation sparked a partnership between EFNEP and a women’s treatment center for substance use disorders. The success of that collaboration led the center to continue EFNEP classes year-round, calling them “a testament to the power of community engagement and the potential for transformative change through education.”
Respect for Lived Experience
What sets EFNEP apart is its respect for lived experience. The program is relationship-driven and learner-centered. It adapts to the cultures, languages and food traditions of each community, making education more accessible and relevant.
EFNEP also embraces innovation. In 2024, NIFA launched a yearlong stakeholder engagement initiative to evaluate and improve the program. Universities received training to develop forward-looking five-year plans. Upgrades to the WebNEERS data system and a new mobile app now let participants enter some of their own information, making tracking easier and more interactive.
EFNEP is more than a nutrition program. It’s a catalyst for healthier families, stronger communities and a more food-secure nation.
As one mother from Ohio put it during a lesson on meal planning: “I need to do that!” That moment of realization shared by thousands of EFNEP participants across the country represents the heart of EFNEP’s mission: helping people take charge of their health, one lesson, one meal, and one family at a time.