Food Affordability, Food Security, and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program

Abstract

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program’s (EFNEP) focus on healthy dietary practices and resource management targets both healthy eating and food security in low-income populations. A preliminary study with an EFNEP population in the northeast developed and tested food affordability questions (self-reported ability to afford healthy foods, fruits/vegetables, and the same kinds of foods throughout the month, baseline/pre-EFNEP, n = 80) and assessed change in food security pre-/post-EFNEP (USDA 30-day 6-item Food Security Module, n = 68). At baseline, food security was positively related to ability to afford self-identified healthy foods (p = 0.006) and fruits/vegetables (p = 0.038) throughout the month. Full and marginal food security increased from pre-EFNEP (39%) to post-EFNEP (71%, p = 0.022). Self-reported ability to purchase healthy foods throughout the month is related to food security. Nutrition education that targets resource management improves household food security.