2025 Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Report

Since 1969, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program has educated limited-resource families and youth in Louisiana, teaching them to develop skills to make healthy changes that will lead to improved diets and nutritional well-being. Through EFNEP’s hands-on approach, participants learn to make behavioral changes and improve the nutritional quality of meals for their families.

EFNEP…

• Focuses on food-related practices to help participants achieve personal and family wellness.
• Is taught by peer educators who live in the communities they serve.
• Delivers research-based teaching through a series of interactive direct-education lessons.
• Partners with community agencies to improve food and physical activity environments.
• Is dedicated to reaching diverse, limited-resource populations.

EFNEP’s Reach in 2025

• Residents participated in EFNEP educational series
• Adults enrolled in nutrition education series
• Youth enrolled in nutrition education series
• Total family participants

Reaching Families

• Percentage of EFNEP adult participants who reported income at or below 185% of poverty level

Health Behavior Improvements

Adult Outreach

• Improved food resource management practices
• Improved diet quality
• Improved physical activity behaviors
• Improved food safety practices
• Improved food security

Youth Outreach

• Improved ability to choose foods according to the dietary guidelines
• Improved physical activity
• Acquired skills to be food secure
• Improved ability to prepare simple, nutritious, affordable food
• Improved food safety practices

Orleans Parish Results

• Residents: 233
• Adults: 62
• Youth: 870
• Total families: 932
• Percent adult: 3%

Adult Outcomes

• Food resource management: 83%
• Diet quality: 98%
• Physical activity: 40%
• Food safety: 48%
• Food security: 28%

Youth Outcomes

• Ability to choose foods: 88%
• Physical activity: 60%
• Food security skills: 0%
• Food safety: 59%
• Food preparation skills: 48%

EFNEP Affecting Lives in Our Parish

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), contact your nearest LSU AgCenter Extension Service office.

Sharman J. Charles, Instructor (EFNEP Program Director)
School of Nutrition and Food Sciences

This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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