What is NEP?
The Nutrition Education Program (NEP) helps families on a limited budget improve the quality of their diet. NEP participants acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behavior changes necessary to improve their health. NEP is free to all participants who meet income guidelines.
Adult & Senior NEP Classes
Adult and Senior NEP classes are comprised of six nutrition lessons. Each lesson includes hands-on learning activities to help participants apply what they learn in class to their daily life. All participants learn about Meal Planning & Shopping and Food Budgeting. Additional topics vary depending on the needs of the group but may include MyPyramid, Healthy Snacking, The Vegetable Group, The Fruit Group, The Milk Group, The Grains Group, The Meat and Beans Group, and Breakfast. For pregnant women and parents with young children, topics for Feeding Your Infant, Feeding Your Children, or Prenatal Nutrition may also be covered. The concepts of Food Safety, Food Preparation, Physical Activity and Goal Setting are tied into every lesson. When participants complete 6 lessons, they receive a certificate and a beautiful cookbook.
Classes are taught individually, in small groups at agency or community sites, at home through mail lessons, Internet or phone visits.
Youth NEP Classes
Youth NEP classes take place at a variety of community sites including preschools, childcare centers, afterschool programs, and summer youth camps. NEP also teaches during the regular school day in qualifying schools.
Additional Information
NEP is the umbrella term for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education (SNAP-Ed) in Nebraska. Both programs receive federal funding from the United States Department of Agriculture. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension manages the program and NEP Staff in local Extension Offices deliver the program to residents in 42 counties in Nebraska.
