Healthy Families, Healthy Communities is comprised of two USDA–funded programs operated through the University of Tennessee; the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).
Through these two programs, we reach nearly 20,000 Tennesseans each year with direct nutrition education. Our educational offerings are more than just eating more fruits and vegetables; we teach participants of all ages new cooking skills, food safety, and money-saving tips. As food costs rise, these programs are more important than ever in the work toward nutrition security.
Our team wants every Tennessean to have the same opportunities to eat, play, and live well – that’s why we are housed in all 95 county Extension offices; providing nutrition education at no cost to community members.
Our work results in healthier plates on Tennessee tables, from families playing together, communities growing and eating from the gardens they tend, and ultimately, to reduced medical care and healthier generations to come.
Annual Reports
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Program
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) is an educational program conducted by the University of Tennessee Extension, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. EFNEP is targeted to families with limited income, particularly parents and other adult caregivers who have primary responsibility for feeding young children, as well as youth and pregnant teens. EFNEP classes focus on how to choose and prepare healthy foods, manage grocery budgets and be active. EFNEP has been conducted in Tennessee for over 50 years.
Tennessee Nutrition and Consumer Education Program
The Tennessee Nutrition Consumer Education Program (TNCEP) is a SNAP-Ed program conducted by the University of Tennessee Extension, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. TNCEP reaches Tennesseans throughout the lifespan (preschoolers to older adults) in communities that qualify for SNAP assistance. Through free nutrition education classes, social marketing campaigns and efforts to enhance the food and activity landscape, TNCEP works to make nourishing food and movement accessible for all Tennesseans. TNCEP has been conducted in Tennessee since 1996.
