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EFNEP
makes a difference
The
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) teaches limited resource
families how to eat healthfully on a tight budget:
• Studies
show that for every $1 spend on EFNEP, up to $10 is saved in future health care
costs.
• Another
study showed that for every $1 spent on EFNEP, $2.48 is saved in food expenses.
• EFNEP
was found to be the most effective federal nutrition program for increasing fruit
and vegetable intake.
EFNEP youth group program
An 18-year-old boy who attends an Alternative Education Program participated
in a Cooking for Life: Young Adult class as part of his high school curriculum.
He was planning to graduate from high school soon and had just gotten a part-time
job at a local supermarket. He was very shy and reserved. The first few classes
he just sat and watched but he was the first to eat and take the groceries home.
I'm not sure what clicked for him (I think it was the fact that he liked what
he was seeing others in the class do and also the benefits of cooking with results
that were better than eating just Ramen noodles), but by class four he was laughing
and participating in the class and cooking. He even was offering a few tips and
really into the menu planning. He really became a large part of the class by
week six and was looking forward to going out into the world with yet another
new life skill that he could use to eventually be on his own.
EFNEP adult group program
One of the participants of an adult Cooking for Life class shared
with me after the last class how much she enjoyed it. She shared with me that
she had learned so much - not only what we discussed in class, but also how
it gave her confidence in herself. She told me that she had problems meeting
new people. She had issues with being able to interact with people that she didn't
know. She felt that the program gave her an opportunity to address this issue.
She had not been able to leave her home and be part of the community for some
time. She said how much she appreciated the opportunity to attend a Cooking
for Life class and how it gave her the incentive to cook and prepare meals for herself
especially because she was expecting a baby in December. So not only did the
classes help her with the nutrition and cooking aspect but it also helped her
as a person to become more comfortable in a new setting and also more confident
of her role as a new mom.
EFNEP adult home visits
For about one year, I worked with a mom who had two
young children. She had many concerns about her children’s behavior at
mealtimes and also what they were eating. We worked on how to make mealtimes
more pleasant for everyone including making it a quiet atmosphere, changing seating
arrangements and making their own personal place mats. Over time, these strategies
helped the family to enjoy eating as a family and for mom not to be so overwhelmed
with unruly behavior. Another concern that the mom had, was that her son was
a "choosy eater." He also didn't eat breakfast at home or at school.
Her son didn't like cereal and the foods offered at school. We brainstormed about
what he enjoyed and would perhaps eat for breakfast. Mom was able to do some
baking and provide him with other alternatives such as muffins and quick breads.
Mom and I came up with some strategies on how she could incorporate foods, especially
vegetables, in her meals that would be nutritious and taste good for her family.
We also came up with some healthy snacks for her family whereas before they ate
mostly high fat/high sugar snacks. Her son was able to gain some weight during
the past year and was more willing to try the foods his mother prepared.
A family of three was referred to EFNEP in the fall.
I was told both parents had learning disabilities and needed help with almost
every aspect of meeting the nutritional needs of their family. Our visits started
off with getting to know each other and the family told me that they would like
to learn how to plan meals, shop within a budget, and learn to cook. They said
that they often ran out of food and depended on the local food shelves to get
through until they would receive more food stamps each month. On my visits both
Mom and Dad would sit with me and actively participate in our lessons. We started
with the "basics" and eventually they reached a point where they could plan a
menu, create a shopping list, shop and prepare healthy meals that fit the needs
of all of them. This is really their success, they wanted to learn and that made
my job pretty easy. The part of this story I like to think I had something to
do with is the fact that this family had a large extended family and network
of friends that would often be at the family's home during our lessons. Often
they would add to our lessons with their own experiences and/or knowledge. By
welcoming their input I believe I was able to connect this family with resources
they already had. Several individuals offered their talents and time to this
family. Grandmother said at one of our visits, "Why didn't you ask me to teach
you how to cook? I didn't want to butt in!" On another visit a family friend
offered to go shopping with them and help them stick to their list and take care
of their toddler. I went to see them one day and they told me, "We've
learned a lot and I think we'll be okay on our own now." They said they
have more help now and that they were "glad they had met me."
I'm pretty glad I met them too; I see them walking together in the town I work
in and they always smile and wave at me and I'm reminded of how rewarding my
job can be.
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