Maryland Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)Mira Mehta, PhD, Kavitha Sankavaram, PhD, Denise Benoit-Moctezuma, MPH

Linda Ashburn, RN, MPH, Maribet Brute, MPH

Abstract

Major Goal

The Maryland Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program(EFNEP) uses evidence-based strategies to address diet and physicalactivity behaviors and reduce risk for food insecurity and chronicdisease.

Maryland EFNEP provides culturally competent nutrition education tolimited- resource families with young children, pregnant teens, andyouth.

EFNEP aims to reduce food insecurity (hunger) and risk for thedevelopment of lifestyle related chronic diseases, including obesity.

Demographics

Impact of EFNEPProgram evaluation provides persuasive evidence that the EFNEPintervention is effective in changing behaviors. High retention ratesalso provide evidence that the program is considered beneficial bytheses ‘hard to reach’ communities.

With 23 community-based educators we have reached:

5,088 youth with 38,364 nutrition education contact hours1,397 adults with 13,357 nutrition education contact hours5,657 family members with 7,199 education sessions

62%

37%

1%

By Ethnicity

Not Hispanic/ LatinoHispanic or LatinoNot Provided

54%

1%

27%

1%14%

3%By Race

WhiteAmerican Indian/Alaskan NativeBlackAsianNot ProvidedMixed Race

23

53

24

4

33

63

0

20

40

60

80

100

No Response/ Do Not Do Seldom/ Sometimes Most of the Time/ AlmostAlways

2016 Entry 2016 Exit

Use of ‘Nutrition Facts’ Label to Make Food Choices

12

5038

29 25

73

0

20

40

60

80

100

No Response/ Do Not Do Seldom / Sometimes Most of the Time / AlmostAlways

2016 Entry 2016 Exit

Plan Meals Ahead

47%

18%

9%

12%

14%

Household Income

<50% below poverty level51-75% below poverty level76-100% below poverty line>101% above poverty levelNot Specified

EFNEP delivers nutrition education in a joint collaboration with the National Institute of Food and Agriculture/USDA, the Department of Nutrition and Food Science UMD, University of Maryland Extension and Maryland Counties.

Results of EFNEP Intervention

Healthy Eating Index (HEI) Score

HEI is an indicator of overall diet quality. It takes into account food groups as well as fat,

sodium, cholesterol, and overall variety.

Community-Based Programs

$1 invested in EFNEP leads to

$10.64 savings in future health costs

University of Maryland Extension programs are open to all citizens without regard to race, color, gender, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, or national origin

53.7 5262.3 57.1

0

20

40

60

80

100

Maryland EFNEP HEI National EFNEP HEI

Entry Exit

Validated Cost Benefit Studies provide evidence that EFNEP reduces health care expenditures.

Investments in EFNEP in 2016 will save Marylanders $9.67 million in future health

care costs.

Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USAEFNEPExpanded Food and Nutrition

Education Program

2

1.6

1.5

0.9

2.5

1.5

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5

Vegetables(Cups)

Fruits(Cups)

Amount Needed To Meet USDA's Dietary GuidelinesAmount Consumed Before EFNEPAmount Consumed After EFNEP

Fruits and Vegetables Consumption

Success Stories

“The gardening and nutrition classes encouraged us to grow our own vegetables in our backyard. During these classes it was not only a

great satisfaction to see my children preparing recipes with vegetables but also to them delighted while savoring. Thanks to

these EFNEP workshops my kids are more likely to try new vegetables and get involved in the preparation of new recipes.”

– EFNEP Participant

“Now my children are the ones who catch my attention when we get our groceries at the supermarket. They help me in reading labels and remind me all that we learned about the percent daily value of food labels.”– EFNEP Participant

“I understand healthy foods vs. what I think is healthy. I learned about healthy portions for my meals. I’m doing a lot better with my sugar intake. I’ve cut candy and soda. I’m eating more fruits and trying to do better with my children’s needs.” – EFNEP Participant