EFNEP - Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
EFNEP In South Carolina
In more than 38 years of service to South Carolina's low-income populations, EFNEP has made a difference
in the lives of hundreds of thousands of South Carolinians.
EFNEP Celebrates its 35th Anniversary
In 2004, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) in South Carolina celebrated its 35th Anniversary. Since it was launched in 1968, EFNEP has delivered a high quality nutrition education program benefitting over 25 million low-income individuals in all 50 States and the U.S. territories. Today, it serves more than half a million adults and youth nationwide, helping them acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behavioral changes necessary for healthy diets and nutritional well-being.
"EFNEP is one of the most successful programs of the Cooperative Extension Service. Each year, more than 2,000 families and 9,000 youth participate in EFNEP nutrition activities that increase their knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behavior toward their nutritional needs. EFNEP participants learn to make informed choices about low-cost, nutritious foods; to better manage family finances; and to become more self-sufficient.
Through an experiential learning process, EFNEP adult program participants learn how to make good choices to improve the nutritional quality of the meals they serve their families. They participate in a series of at least twelve lessons based on the Food Guide Pyramid and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The hands-on, learn-by-doing approach allows the participants to gain the practical skills necessary to make positive behavior changes. They increase their ability to select and buy food that meets the nutritional needs of their families and they gain new skills in food preparation, storage, safety, and sanitation. They also learn to better manage food budgets, including the use of Food Stamps and WIC coupons.
EFNEP also provides a series of nutrition lessons to help children and youth develop healthy eating patterns and skills in preparing nutritious meals and snacks. The youth EFNEP program emphasizes a variety of delivery modes for reaching youth, from traditional classroom settings and after-school programs during the school year to day camps and youth group activities during the summer. The youth curriculum emphasizes learning by experience and reflection, and is adaptable to a wide variety of educational settings.
EFNEP is a people-oriented program. South Carolina families enrolled in EFNEP receive guidance to reach better nutrition and greater self-sufficiency. For 35 years, EFNEP has helped develop strong, healthy, thriving families.
From the hills of Clemson to the South Carolina low country, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program continues to improve the quality of life for limited resource audiences. EFNEP is more than just a program - it is people making a difference in the lives of others.