EFNEP Impact
California EFNEP is making a positive impact in the lives of low-income families. Participants are making positive changes towards healthy living. They also report an increased knowledge of how to make healthy food and exercise choices with a limited budget.
“I give more fruits and vegetables to my kids. Substitute sugary snacks such as cookies or sweets for fresh fruits, blueberries, raspberries and apples. Reading the labels helped me to have a better quality of life. I liked this class because I learned a lot, to eat healthy and lose weight, and this is good for me and my family. Thanks to you there are big changes for me and my family."
Alameda County EFNEP Graduate
Download 2022-2023 EFNEP Adult Impact Report (PDF)
2022-2023 EFNEP Adult Impact
The California EFNEP program teaches and supports low-income adults with children how to live healthier. Through small group classes, participants learn about nutrition, healthy diet choices, food preparation and safety skills, and ways to increase physical activity.
Reaching Diverse Populations
19 counties
2,611 Adult Participants - an increase of 15.5%
Adult Race/Ethnicity
- 65% White
- 3% Black/African American
- 6% American Indian/Alaska Native
- 4% Two or more races
- 16% Decline to state
77% Hispanic
EFNEP Lessons delivered in the following languages:
- Chinese
- English
- Hmong
- Russian
- Spanish
- Vietnamese
Improving Lives
EFNEP helps people develop healthy habits
By the end of the lesson series, adult participants adopted one or more recommended healthy actions. They also increased the frequency of practicing the recommended actions.
- 98% Increased Diet Quality
- 96% Increased Food Resource Management
- 84% Increased Physical Activity
- 57% Increased Food Security
- 84% Increased Food Safety
“Participating in the EFNEP program has truly been enlightening. It has allowed me to realize that maintaining a healthy and balanced diet does not require extravagant expenditures." - Participant from Orange County
Participants saved an average of $63.95/month in food costs.
$2,003,681.40 Total Food Cost Savings in one year for all EFNEP participants
#EFNEPWorks
Local Partnerships
For each lesson topic, the food bank is providing participants with a food bag or box with items to align closely with the recipe and/or topic learned in each class. – Partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank in San Joaquin County
Partnerships with local organizations allow us to deliver programming where participants live, learn, work, play and worship.
Small groups meet over a 6 to 9 week period.
“I learned how to be more organized with food so that I don’t waste food, check the food labels for amounts of sugars and fats.” – Participant from an English Language Learner class in Kern County
EFNEP participation impacts entire families
2,611 Adult Participants impacting 11,235 Household members
Pictured: Fresno nutrition educator cooking with participant
Tulare County Impact
One father made it a habit to share what he learned every session to his entire family so everyone at his home could contribute to a healthier family environment.
His family felt empowered watching their father not only work hard to complete the program but also serving as their role model for practicing healthier eating habits in the family.
Alameda County Impact
"Mara" shared that she was a very picky eater and her diet was limited because she didn't like a lot of foods. She ended up liking every one of the food demonstration recipes! She liked the Tofu Ceviche so much that she went home and prepared it for her family.
“I like it because I can apply the skills at home with my kids.” – Participant from Riverside County
Download 2022-23 EFNEP Youth Impact (PDF)
2022-2023 EFNEP Youth Impact
The California EFNEP Youth Program is delivered in schools that have a majority low-income population.
7 Counties
7,009 Youth Participants, an 8.6% increase
Youth Race/Ethnicity
- 6% White
- 7% Black/African American
- 0% American Indian/Alaska Native
- 14% Asian
- 2% Two or more races
- 16% Decline to state
49% Hispanic
Increased knowledge and behavior change
- 87% Improved Diet Quality
- 51% Improved Food Resource Management
- 58% Improved Physical Activity
- 57% Improved Food Safety
- 29% Improved Food Security
Pictured: Youth harvesting lettuce from the class vertical garden in San Bernadino County
Alameda County: One student wrote that she had never enjoyed eating fruit, but after having the snack of apples with cinnamon and lemon juice (aka 'Amazing Apples') she quickly changed her mind. She wrote that it is now one of her daily snacks at home and also will be trying more fruits from now on.
Contra Costa County: A 1st grader ”hated vegetables” and would refuse to eat anything containing vegetables, even those mixed in with food she normally liked. But after trying and liking carrots during a nutrition lesson, she has become more open to eating vegetables.