Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) in Nevada is offered by University of Nevada, Reno Extension, a unit of Nevada’s Land-Grant University. EFNEP helps youth and adults gain the skills and confidence to eat healthier, be more active, handle food safely, and stretch their food dollars. 

Activities include:

• Cooking demonstrations
• Tasty food samples
• Group physical activities
• Interactive games
• At-home challenges with reinforcements & incentives 

Hands-On, Interactive Learning 

Participants enjoy fun, hands-on lessons in schools and community locations across Clark and Nye counties. Lessons are led by trained peer educators, including English- and Spanish-speaking staff, to ensure information is accessible and culturally relevant.

2025 By the numbers...

The information below is the same FFY 2025 (Federal Fiscal Year) data displayed at the top of the page, with additional detail. 

Youth

• Participants receive an average of 6 hours of free, hands-on nutrition education.
• In FFY 2025, 95% of youth graduates (grades 6–12) reported improvements in one or more core areas and positive behavioral changes (including heathier eating habits and food safety practices).
• In FFY 2025, youth instructors reached nearly 900 youth participants.

Adults

• Participants receive an average of 15 hours of free, hands-on nutrition education.
• In FFY 2025, 97% of adult graduates reported positive behavior change (including heathier eating habits and food safety practices).
• In FFY 2025,  instructors reached 185 adult participants through direct education. This data includes in-person and virtual classes and represents  ≈ 869 family members reached.

EFNEP is the first nationwide nutrition education program for low-income populations, funded by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA/NIFA). Since 1969, EFNEP has helped families and youth improve nutrition, reduce food insecurity and build lifelong healthy habits. 

In Nevada, EFNEP has long served Clark County and recently expanded to Nye County, continuing to strengthen the health and well-being of local communities. 

National Data

Annual data confirms program graduates stretch their food dollars farther, improve their nutrition practices, increase their physical activity levels, handle food more safely and improve their diets.

Routinely, 80 percent or more of families participating in the program report living at or below 100 percent of the federal poverty line, and nearly 70 percent indicate being of minority status. This is important because chronic disease and poor health disproportionately affect minority and low-income audiences.