ABOUT US
The University of Tennessee Extension Department of Family and Consumer Sciences educates families and communities to make healthy life choices.
We are located in all 95 counties across the state of Tennessee. We provide nutrition education to those with limited resources through two special programs.
WHAT WE DO
We collaborate with partners to bring about changes in the community to help make the healthy choice the easy choice.
Extension agents and program assistants partner with community agencies, organizations and volunteers to conduct interactive lessons with adults and youth.
Strategies are evidence-based and tailored to meet the needs of families with limited resources.
GOALS
Our goal is to help participants:
- Choose healthy foods and beverages on a budget
- Eat more fruits and vegetables
- Drink fewer sugar-sweetened beverages
- Lead physically active lives
- Practice healthy foods skill such as planning meals, shopping, cooking and safe food handling
WE PROVIDE
Well-trained staff to conduct or coordinate the programs.
Equipment and supplies needed for lesson delivery, food preparation and healthy message prompts.
Materials to help participants practice new skills at home.
Tools to help communities promote healthy living choices.
THEMES
Cooking Skills
Healthy Eating
Stretching Food Budgets
Being More Active
PARTNERS
Help recruit program partcipants
Assist in locating meeting facilities for sessions
Agree to provide Adequate time for programs
Facilitate agency or community activities to promote healthy living
GET INVOLVED
A local coalition of partners and volunteers join together to plan and carry out activities they would not be able to do on their own. Members come from a wide variety of agencies and organizations serving families with limited resources.
Coalitions help:
- Identify help
- Prioritize and guide programming
- Reach the audience
- Generate community interest
- Plan and conduct activities
Benefits Include:
- Capacity to make a real impact in the community
- Opportunities to share your own programs
- Learning about resources and activities at other agencies
- Access to UT Extension program resources
About Our Nutrition Education Programs
The University of Tennessee Extension, Tennessee Nutrition and Consumer Education Program (UT SNAP-Ed: TNCEP) is funded through the Tennessee Department of Human Services and the US Department of Agriculture. This program provides nutrition education to families and individuals receiving or eligible to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program(SNAP) benefits.
The University of Tennessee Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program(UT EFNEP) is funded by the US Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) to provide nutrition education with a hands-on approach for families and youth with limited resources.
2024 PROGRAM OFFERINGS
| Curriculum | Audience | Description | Duration | Requirements |
| Stay Strong, Stay Healthy | Seniors (60+) | Evidence-based strength-training program for older adults consisting of two lessons per week for eight weeks | 16 sessions/ Twice for 8 weeks | Space for fitness/storage for equipment |
| Eat Well, Feel Well | Seniors (60+) | A series of (8) educational activities designed to engage older adults and teach nutrition, food resource management, and food safety. | 8 sessions (2 parts) | Classes are usually 25-30 minutes |
| Eating Smart at Home | Adults | Minimum eight-lesson series that encourages healthy eating, food safety, and physical activity with an emphasis on food resource management; each lesson can be 45-90 minutes long. | 8 sessions | *Online Pre/Post Assessment *Registration |
| Eating Smart through the Lifecycle | Adults | A series of lessons for pregnant women and parents of infants that teaches feeding practices for babies and children from pregnancy through adolescence. The curriculum encourages healthy eating, food safety, and physical activity. Each lesson is approximately 45–90 minutes long. | 5 sessions | *Online Pre/Post Assessment *Registration |
| Faithful Families | Adults in faith based organizations | The curriculum consists of nine lessons and promotes healthy eating and physical activity; includes guides to help promote a healthy environment among the faith-based community. | 8 sessions | *Required a co-teacher from a faith based site *Online Pre/Post Assessment *Registration |
| Shop Smart TN | Adults | Social marketing and PSE campaign using community food assessments, promotional materials and food demonstrations and tasting to empower healthy food choices among consumers. *Due to COVID-19 all food demonstrations have been suspended. | 6 weeks | *Organization must have a Facebook page as well as participants |
| Walk Across TN | Adults | Walking program to log miles walking, jogging, biking, dancing or other types of physical activity. Walk Across TN Website – http://walkacrosstn.org | 6-8 weeks | *Must have volunteers to act as team captains to collect data *Pre/post Assessment |
| Teen Cuisine | Teens | Teen Cuisine is a series of six hands-on cooking and nutrition lessons for youth grades 13-18. Teens will prepare recipes in class and build new skills each week in addition to learning how to select nutritious foods, plan meals, apply safe food-handling practices, exercise kitchen safety and increase physical activity. Extension educators provide the student workbooks, ingredients and cooking equipment. The curriculum is appropriate for middle school and high school students. | 6 sessions | * Must have a minimum of 10 participants |
| Adventures in the Kitchen | 4th-6th grade | This interactive program teaches cooking skills, kitchen safety, and nutrition and promotes physical activity; consists of six 1–1.5 hour lessons and includes parent newsletters. | 6 sessions | |
| Learn, Grow, Eat, and Go | 3rd-5th grade | A ten-week curriculum consisting of two lessons per week teaching gardening and nutrition. | 20 lessons or 10 weeks | Require a garden |
| Making Tracks with Rudy Racoon | 3rd grade only | Six interactive 35-45 minute lessons to promote healthy eating, food safety and physical activity; includes parent newsletters. | 6 sessions | |
| Power U | 4th or 5th grade | Promotes age-appropriate activities for healthy eating combined with daily physical activity; Consists of five 30-minute lessons and includes parent newsletters. | 5 sessions | Separate curriculum for each grade |