Nutrition Programs in St. Louis County

University of Minnesota Extension offers Nutrition Education Programs to teach families the information and skills to maintain healthy diets. The Nutrition Education programs build upon existing, successful programs funded by the USDA such as FSNE (Food Stamp Nutrition Education) and EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education program).  The programs provide lessons and services that make participation easy and appealing. The curriculum covers topics such as the importance of eating breakfast, eating balanced meals, stretching food dollars, and making meals with whatever food is on hand.  The Nutrition Education Programs provide lessons, displays, newsletters, handouts, and other activities designed for a variety of audiences - parents, children, seniors, young families, and ethnically diverse audiences.  The programs take into account variables such as age, culture, reading ability, physical or developmental limitations, and more. Nutrition education classes are offered in a wide variety of community settings, including food shelves, WIC clinics, senior citizen centers, summer camps, and low-income housing.  The program staff are willing to go to almost any site accessible to people who want and need the information.  In many cases, the Nutrition Education Programs also offer one-on-one, hands-on coaching in people's homes, showing families how to plan and prepare meals on a limited budget. More than thirty years of University experience with low-income nutrition education and research has demonstrated that families who learn how to manage their diet and food budgets often begin taking charge of other aspects of their lives.  For many families, the Nutrition Education Progams will provide an important first step on the road to self sufficiency. For information on the Nutrition Education Programs available in your area, contact your local Extension office:  Duluth - 733-2870 or Virginia - 749-7120.