Nutrition Education Program

The Nutrition Education Program (NEP) is a SNAP-Ed program funded by the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).

NEP offers evidence-based nutrition lessons and food tastings to SNAP eligible residents of all ages in Lancaster County.

Nutrition Education educators are working with community partners to create healthier environments by influencing local policies, systems, and environments at no-cost to eligible locations. This work includes our Healthy Pantry Initiative which aims to increase access to healthy foods and support client choice at partner pantries. Nutrition Educators visit the pantries to encourage consumption of healthy foods through healthy food tastings, demonstrations, recipes, classes, etc.

Our program sites include:

• Public schools where at least 50% of the students qualify for the free or reduced school lunch program including the schools in the School District of Lancaster
• Thrive to Five
• Food pantries
• Senior centers
• Community centers
• Other organizations, including, but not limited to, PA Community Services Group, public housing sites, Boys and Girls Club

NEP offers children and adults the chance to try new foods that are healthy and budget-friendly!

Nutrition lessons and cooking classes focus on the following topics: making informed decisions when using SNAP benefits to stretch food budgets, meal planning, preparing healthy foods, MyPlate and the five food groups, food safety, healthy beverages, and shopping at farmer’s markets.