Tennessee is reported to have a high rate of adult poverty, ranking 38TH in the nation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Tennessee State University $146,262 under the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (CFDA 10.514) on October 1, 2025.

Tennessee State University delivers multisession nutrition education classes lasting 60 to 90 minutes per lesson to low-income adults and youth, using curricula focused on food resource management, healthy dietary choices, food safety, and physical activity. The program employs pre- and post-surveys and 24-hour dietary recalls to assess outcomes. Indirect education includes social marketing and branding activities on social media platforms encouraging participants to "Shop. Cook. Eat. Within Your Budget." The university collaborates with local health councils, school systems, nonprofits, and community organizations on policy, systems, and environmental change approaches to increase access to healthy foods and healthy lifestyles. Current operations span Stewart County and Davidson County, with expansion planned statewide to address food insecurity across Tennessee, where 14 percent of residents and 18.4 percent of children live in poverty, and more than 40 percent of households with children report food insecurity.

The award period runs through September 30, 2030, with place of performance in Nashville, Tennessee. EFNEP is a Federal Extension program administered through 1862 and 1890 land-grant universities in all states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.

Fourteen percent (14.0%) of tennessee residents live in poverty, which is higher than the national average of 12.6%. Additionally, child poverty levels across tennessee are 18.4%, and more than 40% of households with children report food insecurity due to limited financial resources. High rates of poverty have been linked to poor dietary outcomes, highlighting the need for the expanded food and nutrition education program (EFNEP). Tennessee state university's EFNEP currently operates in stewart county, with a poverty rate of 13.1%, and in davidson county, with a poverty rate of 14%. However, there is a continued need to expand EFNEP programming to address food insecurity and promote healthy eating statewide. The program provides multisession classes lasting 60 to 90 minutes per lesson, using pre and post surveys and 24 hour dietary recalls. Lessons are based on research and evidence based curricula focused on food resource management, healthy dietary CH oices, food safety, and increased physical activity for both adults and youth. Indirect education includes social marketing and branding activities on social media platforms that encourage participants to 'shop. Cook. Eat. Within your budget.' policy, systems, and environmental change approaches designed to make the healthy choice the easy choice will continue to be supported in collaboration with local health councils, school systems, nonprofits, and other community organizations whose missions promote access to healthy foods and healthy lifestyles.