Our Outreach and Extension programs in the Department of Nutritional Sciences serve communities statewide by offering education in community nutrition, healthy lifestyles, food safety, and sports and nutrition.
EFNEP
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is a Federal Extension Program offered through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). EFNEP helps families learn about healthy eating, shopping on a budget, cooking and physical activity. EFNEP staff strive to empower participants, providing knowledge and skills to improve the health of all family members. Participants learn through doing, with cooking, physical activity and supportive discussions about nutrition and healthy habits. The program is led by peer educators in a series format, with evidence-based material, consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate.
EFNEP classes will help you to prepare delicious, low-cost, healthy meals for you and your family. Contact the office near you for more information.
SNAP-Ed
The State of Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) has been designated by the USDA to administer the State’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) activities. DSS, in turn, has contracted with UConn and the CT Department of Public Health to design and implement SNAP-Ed projects. Nutrition education and obesity prevention are provided for SNAP recipients and other eligible low-income individuals, which focus on building knowledge and skills to help people make healthy choices on a budget and increase physical activity. The program is evidence-based and consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate.
4-H Sports and Nutrition
The 4-H Sports and Nutrition Program aims to help underserved children ages 8-10 adopt healthy habits, learn life skills and shape positive perspectives that will facilitate their development into productive members of their communities. The program combines youth development through 4-H, practical, hands-on guidance to adopt healthy eating habits from the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and team sports, like soccer, to promote regular physical activity, social bonding, and teamwork.
Food Safety
The University of Connecticut College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, including the Cooperative Extension System, provides food safety training, education and information to consumers, farmers, food processors and foodservice providers.
