Idaho's population is just over 1.9 million

One third of idaho adults and 12% of adolescents have obesity which is a known risk factor for the development of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Moreover, obesity is a known health disparity that disproportionally affects adults and youth from minority groups and those with limited financial resources. While following a healthy diet decreases the odds of developing obesity and obesity related diseases, 10.7% of idahoans are living in poverty and 11.4% experience hunger or food insecurity. Sixty-seven percent of children in idaho come from households that are income eligible for federal nutrition programs (incomes at or below 185% of poverty). Idahoans at higher risk of food insecurity include university students (42%), collegiate athletes (60%), native americans (25%), children (14.5%), seniors (9%), and immigrants (8%). Food insecurity is a known contributor to an unhealthy dietary pattern. Stratified by income, idahoans in the lowest income brackets report the highest percentage of individuals with low fruit and vegetable intake and low physical activity. The university of idaho extension's eat smart idaho program provides nutrition and physical activity education to idaho adults and youth with low-income. Funded in part by the expanded food and nutrition education program (EFNEP), eat smart idaho targets counties with high population and snap usage to assist limited- resource families and youth to acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes to improve diet and physical activity behaviors that contribute to their personal development and the improvement of total family health. FY2025 EFNEP funds will be used to deliver eat smart idaho direct education classes in 15 idaho counties; spanning all regions of the state. Placement of EFNEP in the selected counties aligns the program in the areas with the highest numbers of people in poverty in idaho, the largest population bases within the four idaho regions, and areas with partnership and programming opportunities. Eat smart idaho's professional staff network with a variety of community partners and train EFNEP paraprofessionals (PEER-EDUCATORS) to deliver direct education classes to adults and youth using evidence-based curricula, including go, glow, grow; choose health: food, fun, and fitness; appetite for health; teen cuisine; eat smart virginia; fuel for life; and EFNEP families eating smart, moving more. Idaho EFNEP will reach ADU LTS with children and having low-income through relationships with and recruiting at numerous community agencies and groups that serve families with limited resources, including health and welfare offices, public housing facilities, shelters for women and children and emergency feeding sites. Youth from households with low-income will be reached through partnerships with local school districts, childcare providers, extension 4-H, and other agencies who serve youth in the EFNEP counties. Program reach and outcomes are assessed using enrollment and exit surveys as well as pre/post surveys to assess change in individual knowledge and behaviors. Program priority outcomes assessed include emerging adult reach, adult and youth physical activity, 24-hour dietary recall as a learning tool, adult diet quality, and adult recruitment and retention. Outcomes are shared at the local, state, and national level through print work, presentations, and federal reporting.