Since 1969, the federally funded expanded food and nutrition education program (EFNEP) has been teaching eligible participants how to make healthier food choices on a limited budget, increase their…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded North Carolina State University $2,625,220 under the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (CFDA 10.514) on October 1, 2025, for a five-year performance period ending September 30, 2030.

The award funds research-based nutrition education for adults and school-aged youth delivered through evidence-based curricula implemented in schools, community organizations, healthcare sites, and other partner locations across North Carolina. Activities include teaching participants to plan and prepare healthy meals, cook food safely, engage in physical activity, and manage food budgets. The program provides technology-supported learning through online lessons and digital tools, along with coordinated recruitment and outreach efforts with county partners. Expected outcomes include improved diet quality, increased physical activity, better food resource management, and enhanced food security. Program impacts are tracked through EFNEP's web-based Nutrition Education Evaluation and Reporting System (WEBNEERS).

The primary beneficiaries are low-income school-aged youth and families with children referred to the program by community and healthcare partners. Work is performed in Raleigh, North Carolina. As a 1862 Land-Grant institution, North Carolina State University is an eligible recipient under EFNEP, which operates through land-grant universities in all states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.

Since 1969, the federally funded expanded food and nutrition education program (EFNEP) has been teaching eligible participants how to make healthier food choices on a limited budget, increase their physical activity, manage their food resources, and prepare and handle food safely. EFNEP helps low-income families and children develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors necessary for maintaining a healthy diet, thereby reducing their risk of chronic diseases. Funding will support research-based nutrition education for adults and school-aged youth through evidence-based curricula implemented in schools, community organizations, healthcare sites, and other partner locations across north carolina. Activities include teaching participants how to plan and prepare healthy meals, cook food safely, engage in physical activity, and manage their food budgets. The program will also offer technology-supported learning through online lessons and digital tools, along with coordinated recruitment and outreach efforts with county partners. Expected outcomes include improved diet quality, increased physical activity, better food resource management, and enhanced food security. Program impacts are tracked through EFNEP's web-based nutrition education evaluation and reporting system (WEBNEERS). The primary beneficiaries are low-income school-aged youth and families with children referred to the program by community and healthcare partners. The communities they live in will also benefit as participants become healthier, contributing to a stronger pipeline of healthy students, a more resilient workforce, and engaged community members, ultimately helping to reduce healthcare costs.