There is a need to provide effective nutrition information and education to the public to enable consumers to make wise dietary choices

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Utah State University $421,797 under the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (CFDA 10.514) on October 1, 2025, to deliver non-formal nutrition education and research-informed extension activities to reduce chronic disease incidence and nutrition-related health issues among Utah residents.

USU Extension will conduct educational workshops and consultations addressing chronic diseases, nutrition education, healthy and affordable recipes, diet behavior changes, and youth nutrition. Faculty will integrate nutrition research on obesity, chronic diseases, and food science into extension activities to inform best practices, behavior change, and evidence-based curricula development. The program targets both youth and adults to empower residents to make healthy food choices, improve nutritional intake, and reduce the economic cost of chronic diseases in Utah.

The award period runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030, with place of performance in Logan, Utah. EFNEP is a formula grant program operated through 1862 and 1890 land-grant universities in all 50 states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia, combining hands-on learning, applied science, and program data to support participants' efforts toward self-sufficiency and nutritional health.

As the relationships between diet, physical and mental health, and disease prevention become clearer, the promotion of healthy eating behaviors and lifestyles for both youth and adults has received increased attention in recent years. With high levels of obesity, chronic disease, and poor dietary habits, there is a need for non-formal nutrition education that addresses individual and family health and wellness. The public nutrition and health education program at USU extension seeks to decrease the incidences of chronic diseases and other nutrition-related health issues among residents through non-formal nutrition education. The priorities for this program are to expand nutritional research and education, and to promote healthy dietary habits. Therefore, the desired long-term outcomes are the public nutrition and health education program are to (a) empower residents to make healthy food choices and improve their nutritional intake, and (b) reduce the economic cost of chronic diseases in utah through ongoing nutrition education to youth and adults. Faculty involved in public nutrition and health education program actively conducts research on a wide variety of topics including nutrition, obesity, chronic diseases, and food science. Research is incorporated into extension activities to inform best practices, behavior change, and evidence-based curricula development. Major activities to be performed in nutrition and health include educational workshops and consultations on topics related to chronic diseases, nutrition education, healthy and affordable recipes, diet behavior changes, and youth nutrition.