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Nutrition Education program helps low-income families eat healthfully

Is it possible to eat healthfully on a budget? At EFNEP (the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program) we believe it is not only possible but the results can be delicious.

People often assume that "healthy food" costs more and does not taste as good. But with a bit of thought and planning, a family with limited resources can enjoy healthy, nutritious, and tasty meals at low cost. This is at the heart of what we teach our program participants. Last year, 1,796 Cuyahoga County adults and 4,587 youth participated in EFNEP classes.

EFNEP is a national nutrition education program offered by Ohio State University Extension since 1969 in Cuyahoga County. In partnership with grassroots agencies, the program teaches low-income families to make healthy and inexpensive food choices in order to improve their nutritional well-being. EFNEP's aim is to help people adopt healthy eating behaviors. We achieve this by interacting with our clients on a repeated basis and using a discussion based hands-on curriculum. Over 80 percent of the adults reached through the program make at least one positive change in their eating behavior.

Research has shown that for every dollar spent on the EFNEP program, there can be an expected benefit of $10.64 saving in future health care costs and $2.48 savings in food expenditures.

EFNEP has partnered with many local organizations including the Cleveland Department of Public Health, County Board of Health, Cuyahoga Municipal Housing Authority, Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Cleveland Municipal School District, and the New Agrarian Center to expand its outreach and enhance its programming efforts. The program has come to be recognized as a premier nutrition education program for limited resource families in Cuyahoga County.

For information on the EFNEP program in Cuyahoga County, contact:

Punam Ohri-Vachaspati
OSU Extension Educator
EFNEP
Cuyahoga County
ohri.2@osu.edu

Quotes:

"I tried buying fruits with my food stamp dollars for my family. But each time, I would end up throwing all the fruit because my children did not eat them. My EFNEP nutrition educator helped me find ways to make the fruit attractive to my children. Now, the fruit is gone within the week - I am happy and my family is healthy!"

- A grateful Mom and EFNEP program participant

"Since attending EFNEP classes, I have really been trying to eat healthy. I learned to drink water, so now instead of reaching out for pop, I drink a glass of water. I also look at nutrition labels when I go shopping so I can buy healthier foods. Thanks!"

- JW, EFNEP program participant

"Now I do not leave frozen food to thaw on the counter or leave food with meat and dairy sit out for long periods of time. I learned how to keep my food safe and my family healthy."

- EFNEP program participant

For more information, call 216-429-8220 or go to http://cuyahoga.osu.edu/nutrition/

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Created: 2008-04-14, Updated: 2008-04-14