The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is designed to assist limited-resource audiences in acquiring the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and changed behavior necessary to maintain nutritionally sound diets.  The program contributes to personal development and the improvement of the family diet and nutritional well-being.

EFNEP is delivered as a series of lessons by paraprofessionals and volunteers. In this experiential learning process, program participants learn how to make food choices to improve the nutritional quality of family meals. They increase their ability to select and buy food that meets the nutritional needs of their family. They gain new skills in food production, preparation, storage, safety and sanitation, and they learn to better manage their food budgets. The hands-on, learn-by-doing approach allows the participants to gain the practical skills necessary to make positive behavior changes. Through EFNEP, participants learn self-worth and realize that they have something to offer their families and society.

EFNEP youth programs includes nutrition education at schools as an enrichment of the curriculum, in after-school care programs and through 4-H EFNEP clubs, day camps, residential camps, community centers, neighborhood groups, and home gardening workshops.