NUTRITION AT CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION Working

-BY LAURA HUNSBERGER AND EMILY REYNOLDS

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (February 17, 2023)

– You may know of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE Chautauqua), for their 4-H programs & seeing kids show animals at the county fair, and for the support provided to the Agricultural Community. But did you know that it also has not one, but two wonderful nutrition programs that are distinct, yet complementary to each other?

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Ed) provide nutrition education to low-income families. The EFNEP program just celebrated its 50th anniversary! It officially became a national Federal program in 1969 and is offered through Cooperative Extension Offices in all 50 States and Territories. SNAP-Ed started about twenty years later and was formerly known as Eat Smart New York (ESNY). These two programs have worked closely for decades to improve the lives of tens of thousands of low-income individuals through interactive workshops, and lessons for improving nutrition, physical activity, food safety and budget skills.

Why are there two programs? Well, EFNEP works with the adult population of families and other caregivers primarily responsible for

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feeding young people aged 5-19. While SNAP-Ed also works with adults, this program works directly with the youth and children from the ages of 5 and up that are recipients of SNAP benefits or eligible to receive SNAP benefits (formerly called food stamps.)

There are many benefits to offering two programs in a high-need county like Chautauqua. Our participants tell stories about their empowerment when they understand the benefits of eating more nutritious foods, increasing their physical activity levels, reading food labels, and making educated budget decisions that help their families. Our educators have such a variety of programming that you may find them working at farmer’s markets, food pantries, faith-based organizations, libraries, or schools in any given week. The nutritionists have fun teaching and preparing healthy, affordable recipes, demonstrating, and having classes where the participants prepare the recipes with the educator. If you or your organization would like to schedule an EFNEP or SNAP-Ed nutrition workshop, please call 716-664-9502.

Why are we telling you this? Well, CCE Chautauqua has an opening for a EFNEP Educator! The educator primarily delivers established EFNEP programming to improve healthy food and lifestyle choices among families throughout Chautauqua County.