Have you heard of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)? Despite its unassuming name, EFNEP is a valuable program that fosters healthy eating habits. It actively supports families expecting a baby or raising children and teenagers on a limited income. Many participants qualify for vital assistance programs like SNAP, WIC, Head Start, or free/reduced-price school meals. Others may simply need extra support from food pantries to manage their budgets until the end of the month. With the rising cost of everyday necessities impacting everyone, EFNEP stands ready to help.
EFNEP boasts a history spanning over five decades! It began as a pilot initiative in Alabama, born from concerns about poverty and hunger. By 1969, EFNEP became the nation’s pioneering nutrition education program, extending its reach to low-income families across the country and U.S. territories. Utilizing a peer-educator model and hands-on learning, EFNEP empowers participants to achieve self-sufficiency, improved nutritional health, and overall well-being. Program participants consistently report positive outcomes, including better diets, enhanced nutrition practices, greater food budget management, improved food safety practices, and increased physical activity.
In Arkansas, we operate as Cooking Arkansas EFNEP, delivered by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Extension Service. We offer complimentary nutrition class series and engaging cooking schools. We firmly believe that feeding your family well without straining your finances is achievable with the right strategies. The common notion that “healthy food is expensive” isn’t always the case. Numerous healthy options are available if you know where to find them and how to prepare them effectively.
A significant advantage of Cooking Arkansas EFNEP is that we provide all the necessary resources for our class series. We come to you with all the class materials, cooking equipment, and recipe ingredients. Our educators can conduct classes in virtually any accessible location with tables, chairs, and electrical outlets, such as libraries, churches, community rooms, and schools. Each Cooking Arkansas EFNEP class includes a recipe demonstration and/or tasting, offering a valuable opportunity to try new foods and develop new culinary skills. Adult participants receive a useful kitchen gadget at each lesson, as well as a certificate of completion and the “Cooking with EFNEP Cookbook” upon finishing the class series. Youth participants receive a certificate and an EFNEP string backpack.
If your family is interested in participating in EFNEP classes or if your organization would like to host a class, we would be delighted to connect with you. Please call Cathy at 479-271-1060 or email [email protected]. You can also stay updated by following our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BentonCountyEFNEPatUAEX.
Upcoming Cooking Arkansas EFNEP Classes
Teen Cuisine (sixth- through eighth graders): Bentonville Public Library, Tuesdays, July 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. For more information, contact Anna Sharon at [email protected].
Teen Cuisine (ninth- through 12th-graders): Bentonville Public Library, Tuesdays, July 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, 3 to 4 p.m. For more information, contact Anna Sharon at [email protected].
Kids in the Kitchen (third- through fifth-graders): Bentonville Public Library, Thursdays, July 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. For more information, contact Christina Clark at [email protected].
Family Cooking School (Families with kids third grade and older): Benton County Extension Office, Thursdays, July 10, 17, 24 and 31, 2 to 4 p.m. For information, contact Jackie Silva at [email protected].
Cathy Love is an extension agent with the Benton County Cooperative Extension Service, a cooperative service provided by the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and Benton County. She specializes in the Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program, an educational program designed to help families with food budgeting, healthy eating, and healthy lifestyles. She may be contacted at 479-271-1060 or [email protected].
