The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is an educational program conducted by the University of Tennessee Extension, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. EFNEP is targeted to families and youth with limited income, particularly families with young children.
Families who enroll in EFNEP receive a series of lessons on how to choose a healthy diet. Education focuses on three major issues:
- Selecting and preparing nutritious foods
- Managing food resources wisely
- Handling foods safely
EFNEP has been conducted for 33 years in Davidson County. Through the years EFNEP had proven to be a program with significant impacts at a low cost to taxpayers. A cost-benefit analysis for EFNEP showed that for every dollar spent to implement the program, $2.48 is saved on food expenditures. This can reduce the need for emergency food assistance and save money for other necessities.
For more information contact the Extension Office, (615) 862-5995, or email Jackie King, the program coordinator, jwking@utk.edu.