EFNEP

Building Healthy Habits, also known as the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), offers several different free cooking and nutrition workshops for families, youth and young adults who have limited incomes and who live in Delaware County. These free workshops are held at different locations and we provide all materials that you will use, including the food that you will cook and eat during the class. Some workshops also provide free childcare and transportation (if needed). For new moms, we also offer breastfeeding classes and support.

Over the last 50 years, more than a half-million children in New York State have benefited from the Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), a federal program delivered through Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) that helps families with limited resources learn how to eat healthy meals on a budget and lead active, healthy lives.

How can you benefit from EFNEP services?

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DAY CARE PROVIDERS – Can use home-based lessons provided through EFNEP for their training credit requirements – Nutrition and Health Needs of Children, Learning Through Play/Fun Time with Foods/Other Child Care Activities, Discipline as Guidance, Child Development – Ages & Stages, Communicating With Children, Financial Management, Business Records and Child Day Care Program Development.

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EFNEP YOUTH PROGRAM – Each summer and throughout the year, Cornell Cooperative Extension offers a series of six lessons to school age youth groups. “Passport Adventures to Food and Fitness” Summer Youth Program focuses on the new dietary guidelines and healthy food lifestyle and fitness choices. Activities and games keep youth learning about basic nutrition, healthy snack choices and how to strive to eat five fruits and vegetables each day.

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BREASTFEEDING HEALTHY BABIES – One of the most important decisions parents will make is how to feed their baby. Deciding to breastfeed can give babies the best possible start in life. Cornell Cooperative Extension provides breastfeeding support and education through the ESNY and EFNEP programs; and offers breast pumps to mothers who are high risk or enrolled in WIC, Public Health Well Baby Visits and ESNY/EFNEP. 

Home-based breastfeeding lessons include information on: Benefits of Breastfeeding, How Breastfeeding Works, Getting Started, Beyond the First Feedings, Special Concerns, Breastfeeding and Returning to Work, Breast Milk Expression and Storage, and Weaning Your Baby,

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GARDENING: In the Spring we enroll families and youth in gardening lessons for container gardening, growing a pizza or home garden, herbs for flavoring foods, or community/worksite gardens. Participants learn how to prepare the soil and composting garden for growing plants, soil testing, planting, growing produce, harvesting produce & integrated pest management.

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FARMERS' MARKETS: The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) encourages eligible seniors and WIC families to eat more locally grown vegetables. Coupons may be available at Office for the Aging and WIC in the summer to purchase fresh vegetables at local farmer markets. Cornell Cooperative Extension provides nutrition education lessons for WIC families participating in the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.

Last updated January 5, 2025