The Nutrition Education Program (NEP) helps families on a limited budget improve the quality of their diet and become more physically active. 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.
Youth Education
Youth classes take place at a variety of community sites including schools, childcare centers, afterschool programs, and summer youth camps. The youth learn about nutrition using MyPlate, food preparation and food safety. A nutrition education session typically contains four main components - a nutrition lesson, physical activity time, preparing a recipe and taste-tasting. We use a variety evidence-based curriculum for elementary, middle-school and high school aged youth. Check out our brochure for more information!
Adult Education
Adults are taught individually or in small groups at agency or community sites. Each lesson includes hands-on learning activities to help participants apply what they've learned in class. Lessons include the basics of nutrition, planning meals, making a food budget, reading food labels, eating a balanced diet by following the USDA MyPlate recommendations, and more. When participants complete the seven lessons, they receive a certificate and an NEP enhancement item such as a cookbook.
Community-based Approaches
- Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC) is an evidence-based program for improving the health of young children through better nutrition and physical activity in early care and education programs. Go NAP SACC walks child care providers through a 5-step process to make healthy changes to their program.
- Faithful Families Thriving Communities (Faithful Families) works directly in communities of faith to promote health for individuals, families, and local communities. The practice-tested program is open to all faith and religious traditions and engages faith communities in health education, environmental changes to support health, and community-wide health initiatives.
- School and Community Gardens provide a platform for nutrition and physical activity education. We have also utilized Extension Master Gardeners to develop a donation garden where all of the produce is dontated to local families in need.
Meet our Staff:
Focus Areas:
- Adult Nutrition Education - Individuals and Groups
- Spanish-Speaking Audiences
- Faithful Families – Helping individuals and families connect healthy eating and physical activity to their religious or spiritual beliefs
- Community Events and Fairs
Focus Areas:
- Adult Nutrition Education
- In-School Nutrition Programming – Serving Middle and High Schools
- After School Nutrition Programming – Serving Elementary and Middle Schools
- Summer School Nutrition/Garden Programming – Serving Elementary, Middle, and High Schools
- Faithful Families – Helping individuals and families connect healthy eating and physical activity to their religious or spiritual beliefs
- Pregnant and Parenting Teens Programming – Helping young mothers establish healthy habits for themselves and their new family
- Community Events & Fairs
Focus Areas:
- General nutrition, sports nutrition, and physical activity
- In-School Programs - K-12th grades
- Summer Youth Programs
Focus Areas:
- Before and After-School Programs – Elementary School (with a focus on physical activity, nutrition and food preparation)
- In-School Programs – Elementary and Middle School (with a focus on nutrition and physical activity)
- Nutrition School Enrichment Kits – Kindergarten through 5th Grade
- Donation Gardens
- Summer Youth Programs (with a focus on gardening, food preparation, physical activity and nutrition)
- Adult Nutrition Education
- Community Events and Fairs
- Certified CATCH Kids Club Curriculum Trainer
Focus Areas:
- Before and After-School Programs- Elementary School (with a focus on physical activity, nutrition and food preparation)
- In-School Programs- Elementary and Middle School (with a focus on physical activity and nutrition)
- Nutrition School Enrichment Kit Programs- Kindergarten through 5th grade
- Summer Youth Programs (with a focus on physical activity, nutrition and food preparation)
- Adult Nutrition Education
- Community Events and Fairs
- Certified NAP SACC Trainer
Focus Areas:
- After-School Programs- Elementary Schools (with a focus on physical activity, nutrition and food preparation)
- In-School Programs- Elementary Schools (with a focus on physical activity and nutrition)
- Nutrition School Enrichment Kit Programs- Kindergarten through 5th grade
- Summer Youth Programs (with a focus on physical activity, nutrition and food preparation)
- Adult Nutrition Education
- Community Events and Fairs
- Go NAP SACC Trainer
- Eat Family Style Coach
Focus Areas:
- Administrative support for the Nutrition Education Program in Adams and Hall Counties
Focus Areas:
- Go NAP SACC Trainer
- Food Safety
- Content development for Food.unl.edu
- Leadership and support for Nutrition Education Program staff members in Adams and Hall Counties
- For more information: Nutrition Education Program
- For questions, contact Cami Wells at (308) 385-5088.