Released: April 03, 2001

Family Nutrition Program Offers Guidance, Education

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Eating healthy on a limited budget can be challenging, but the Family Nutrition Program helps limited-resource families make the most of their food dollars.

FNP is a nutrition education program for food stamp eligible people and their families. The program, started in 1995, teaches low-income individuals in all age groups, from youth to older adults. It focuses on how to choose and prepare nutritious meals on a limited budget, safe food handling practices and balancing healthy eating practices with physical activity.

"One of the big advantages of our program is that we help families stretch their food dollars so they can buy more nutritious foods," said Karen Hudson, coordinator of FNP and also a registered dietician. "We aren’t telling them what to buy; we are teaching them how to make the decisions about what to buy."

FNP brings the nutrition information to low income people in 84 Kansas counties through a network of K-State Research and Extension county agents, who work with Head Start; the WIC (Women, Infants, Children) program; shelters; and other agencies that focus on those struggling financially.

"When families eat better, they are healthier and have fewer illnesses," Hudson said. "Children from these families perform better in school and are better prepared to live productive adult lives."

In Kansas, Hudson said many more people are eligible to receive food stamps than those who actually take advantage of them. The need isn’t just in urban areas.

"There are a lot of families and individuals in our state who, for whatever reason, have a hard time making ends meet," Hudson said. "Some are farm families who have fallen on hard times; some are single mothers struggling to raise a family; and some are working full-time at minimum wage jobs and depend on the food stamps to help them make it through the month."

While the program focuses on food-stamp eligible people, the FNP agents do not check status of participants.

"We take our programs to locations where people of limited means tend to frequent," Hudson said. "For example, we may provide nutrition education in a public school that is located in a low income neighborhood or participate in a health fair offered by the health department. Not everyone at those events is low income, but a large percentage are."

The program tries to make it as easy as possible for families to participate.

"The programs may be held in the evenings or on Saturdays to accommodate people’s busy schedules. Some FNP agents even meet workers at their plant at the end of their shifts," Hudson said. "We are making a strong effort to be where they need us to be. Working with the county agents allows us to extend our programs and services across the state."

Evaluations of the program show it is making a difference in people’s lives, Hudson said.

"We are finding that our participants are increasing their consumption of nutritious food. Many are saying that, after participating in our classes, they are better able to feed their families nutritiously and make it through the month on a limited budget," Hudson said. "It’s like throwing a stone into a pond and seeing the ripple effect. These programs are making a difference."

Persons interested in the Family Nutrition Program can contact their local K-State Research and Extension county office.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Linda Sleichter, Communications Assistant
lsleicht@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research & Extension News