Ohio State University Extension Family and Consumer Sciences professionals offers a wide variety of nutrition-related programs throughout the state. Though Healthy People programming topics vary from county to county around the state, nutrition programming includes such topics as:

  • Dining with Diabetes
  • Using Herbs and Spices to Lower Sodium Consumption
  • Heart-healthy Meals
  • Cooking for One or Two
  • Stretching Your Food Dollar

We also have two grant-funded community nutrition education programs aimed at improving the health and well-being of limited-resource audiences across Ohio. OSU Extension’s FCS community nutrition education programs for low income audiences are the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program (SNAP-Ed) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). SNAP-Ed and EFNEP make a difference in the lives of their participants by educating them on tips to adopt healthy lifestyles. Each has lessons about nutritious diets, physical activity, food budgeting, food security, food safety and family well-being. While both programs address similar nutrition education issues, they serve unique audiences in counties throughout Ohio.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program (SNAP-Ed)

SNAP-Ed operates in 52 states and territories and targets individuals and families eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly food stamp program). SNAP-Ed is funded by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service and in partnership with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. SNAP-Ed uses interactive approaches with participants who attend classes. Learn more about SNAP-Ed by visiting http://snap.nal.usda.gov. To see if SNAP-Ed is available in your county and to learn more, click here.

Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)

EFNEP operates through the 1862 and 1890 Land-Grant Institutions in every state and in the six U.S. territories. The Ohio State University is Ohio’s Land-Grant Institution. Using a research-based, interactive approach, peer educations from the communities they support reach over ½ million limited-resource families and youth each year. More than 80 percent of EFNEP families report living at or below 100% of poverty, and nearly 70 percent indicate being of minority status. This is important because poor heatlh disproportionalty affects minority and limited-resource audiences. For more information visit: www.csrees.usda.gov/efnep. To see if EFNEP is available in your county and learn more, click here.