Nutrition

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EFNEP

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) administers the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP); land-grant universities conduct the program in all states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.  EFNEP provides practical, hands-on nutrition education that changes behavior. By working through families, EFNEP addresses health disparities associated with some of our most pervasive societal challenges – hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and obesity. EFNEP remains as relevant and essential today as it was in the 1960s when the program began.

Mission

Promoting sound nutrition and health practices to limited-resource families through education.

EFNEP contributes to the health of the nation by helping low-income families improve their nutritional well-being. This is accomplished by a series of hands-on, interactive lessons. EFNEP contributes to the reduction of health disparities typically associated with those who have limited financial resources.

SNAP-Ed

In cooperation with the Mississippi Department of Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Extension provides Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed). SNAP-Ed consists of nutrition education delivered by paraprofessional nutrition educators.

Mission

Provide education to individuals eligible for any means-tested federal assistance (food stamps, WIC, etc.) to help improve their dietary practices and ability to manage available food resources.

Local SNAP-Ed programs identify and deliver nutritional information to audiences based on local needs. This process is facilitated by a collaborative partnership of the Mississippi State University Extension with agencies and organizations representing the needs of SNAP-eligible individuals. Nationally, the focus of SNAP-Ed is to:

• aid those who are SNAP-eligible establish healthy eating habits and more physically active lifestyles
• prevent or postpone the onset of chronic diseases in those who are SNAP-eligible by establishing healthier eating habits and a more physically active lifestyle

The key behavioral outcomes for Mississippi participants in SNAP-Ed are:

• Make half your plate fruits and vegetables; eat whole grains; and switch to fat-free or low-fat milk products
• Increase physical activity and reduce time spent in sedentary behaviors as part of a healthy lifestyle
• Maintain appropriate calorie balance during each stage of life

SNAP-Ed in Mississippi is sponsored by Mississippi State University Extension, the Mississippi Department of Human Services, and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).