A Review of the USDA's Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), which is an outreach program provided by the Land-grant Universities through their Cooperative Extension System, was established in 1969. This makes it the longest operating, evidence-based nutrition education program in the country. It provides food and nutrition education to adults and youth from limited-income communities around the nation. In the state of Delaware, the University of Delaware provides EFNEP to New Castle and Sussex counties while Delaware State University provides programming in Kent County. Currently classes are taught in English and Spanish both in person and online. A series of classes teaches participants about eating a healthier diet, being more physically active, keeping food safe and using food resources wisely. In Fiscal Year 2025, the University of Delaware's EFNEP alone reached over 250 adults and over 1,200 youth within New Castle and Sussex Counties. Over 90% of adults and 80% of youth showed an improvement in their nutritional practices.