The expanded food and nutrition education program (EFNEP) of north dakota provides interactive, skills-based nutrition education to adults with children (including custodial grandparents), pregnant…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded North Dakota State University $424,179 under the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP, CFDA 10.514) on October 1, 2025, for a five-year period of performance through September 30, 2030, with place of performance in Fargo, North Dakota.

NDSU delivers interactive, skills-based nutrition education to low-income adults with children (including custodial grandparents), pregnant individuals, and youth aged 5–17 across North Dakota. The program hires and trains peer educators from participating communities to deliver outreach and education. Adult EFNEP offers a series of free, evidence-based lessons on nutrition, food safety, physical activity, and food resource management; participants who complete five or more lessons are eligible for graduation and complete a food recall and survey to assess knowledge and behavior changes. Youth EFNEP collaborates with local youth groups to provide complementary programming promoting increased intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products alongside balanced physical activity. NDSU reaches program participants primarily through partnerships with community agencies including Head Start, food pantries, schools, Indian tribal organizations, and 1994 land-grant institutions in tribal communities. Program participants report improvements in diet quality, physical activity, food safety, and food resource management behaviors, as well as enhanced food security.

This is a formula grant. EFNEP is restricted to 1862 and 1890 land-grant institutions and operates through those universities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and six U.S. territories.

The expanded food and nutrition education program (EFNEP) of north dakota provides interactive, skills-based nutrition education to adults with children (including custodial grandparents), pregnant individuals and youth (aged 5-17). EFNEP hires and trains peer educators from participating communities to deliver outreach and education to program participants. Adult EFNEP offers a series of free lessons with evidence-based content, designed to promote positive nutrition, food safety, physical activity, and food resource management practices. After completing five or more lessons, EFNEP adult participants are eligible for graduation and complete a food recall and survey to assess their knowledge and behavior changes. Youth EFNEP collaborates with local youth groups to provide complementary programming that promotes increased intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-FAT dairy products, along with balanced physical activity. Program participants are primarily reached through partnerships with community agencies and organizations, including head start, food pantries, schools and indian tribal organizations (ITOS), as well as other partners in tribal communities, such as 1994 land-grant institutions. EFNEP participants report improvements in diet quality, physical activity, food safety, and food resource management behaviors following EFNEP lessons, as well as enhanced food security.