Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program
Contact: M. Catalina Aragon, c.aragon@wsu.edu, (253) 798-3252
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is designed to assist limited resource audiences in acquiring the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behavior changes necessary for nutritionally sound diets, and to contribute to their personal development and the improvement of the total family diet and nutritional well-being.
Over 60% of Yakima County adults are overweight or obese. People who are obese or overweight are more prone to develop high blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol, and diabetes. Washington adults who are obese are about three times more likely to have diabetes compared to adults who are not obese.
EFNEP promotes healthy eating and physical activity through fun and intneractive classes. Yakima County EFNEP encourages parents and caregivers to be role models for their children.
In Yakima County, FREE EFNEP class series are offered in English and Spanish to parents and youth. We partner with various agencies and schools to teach classes where people feel comfortable taking the classes.
Please visit the EFNEP Statewide Website for more information!
EFNEP Makes a Difference
The EFNEP program uses standardized assessment tools to monitor participant’s changes in food and physical activity levels before and after they complete the classes. We continually see significant changes in nutrition, physical activity levels, food safety and food resource management.
What Participants are Saying
Translated from a Spanish-language class at Children’s Village:
“I have been eating more vegetables and I am more conscious about what I eat. I eat more foods that benefit my health.”
“I drink a gallon of water each day, I eat smaller portions, and I learned how to make healthy/simple/fast snacks and foods. I also exercise more than before and I learned how to use a thermometer.”
“I drink more water, I exercise more throughout the day, and I am trying to eat smaller food portions.”
“I cook with less oil, I eat smaller portions, and I stopped drinking soda.”
“I pay more attention to nutrition facts labels before I make a purchase… I drink the amount of water that my body needs.”
“I eat more vegetables and I pay more attention to nutrition facts labels.”
Agency Partners
Thanks to all the partners who have collaborated with us to host EFNEP classes!
- Buena Library
- Buena Grange
- Catholic Charities Housing
- Catholic Services (Parent as Teachers)
- Children’s Village
- Davis High School
- Eisenhower High School
- Granger Inspire Center
- Grandview Inspire Center
- Heritage University (HEP Program)
- Harrah Inspire Center
- La Casa Hogar
- Moxee Community Group
- Nuestra Casa
- Spanish Yakima Seventh Day Adventist Church
- Stanton Academny
- Sunnyside Community Church
- Sunnyside Inspire I Center
- Sunnyside Inspire II Center
- Tieton EPIC
- Toppenish Food Bank
- Union Gap Parks
- Wapato Inspire Center
- Yakama Nation Diabetes Center
- Yakima Valley Farmworker’s Clinic (Nob Hill)