EFNEP participant Yumi Rabauliman, right, prepares a healthy recipe during class.
Newly graduated EFNEP participants gather for a group photo with their instructor while displaying their certificates of completion.
(NMC) — Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Services is hosting free nutrition and healthy cooking classes through the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program or EFNEP for all parents and caregivers of children under 18.
EFNEP provides a series of nine interactive lessons on healthy food choices, saving money on groceries, meal planning, food safety, and physical activity. Participants prepare and taste a healthy recipe in every lesson and receive enhancements and a certificate of completion upon completing all nine lessons.
Recent EFNEP graduate Yumi Rabauliman shared how she was empowered to pursue a healthier lifestyle after completing nine lessons.
“Since taking the class, I started to make a grocery list and plan meals to cook for the week. Now my family and I save more money, food stamp coupons, and still enjoy eating. I was also able to lose 3 lbs, just by cutting down on sugary drinks and food, drinking more water, and working out… EFNEP made me realize that even if healthy foods are expensive, we can learn to make our own healthy affordable meals at home,” Yumi Rabauliman said.
Another EFNEP graduate, Molly Ann M. Duenas, said, “The EFNEP program made a positive impact on me. It helped me become smarter in shopping for food and to buy only what is needed. Now, I eat less rice, eat more vegetables, and began participating in dancing activities.”
Parents and caregivers of school-age children are highly encouraged to pursue healthier lifestyles through these free EFNEP nutrition and healthy cooking classes.
The free EFNEP classes will be held at Kagman Community Center from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. starting July 30 to Aug. 27, 2024, every Tuesday and Friday. Another round of EFNEP classes will take place in Room J-15 at the NMC Saipan campus from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. from Aug. 5 to Sept. 5, 2024, every Monday and Thursday. EFNEP classes on Tinian will be held at the NMC Tinian campus from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. starting Aug. 5 to Sept. 5, 2024, every Monday and Thursday.
To register for the next Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program cohort, visit bit.ly/EFNEPCNMI/. For more information about the program, contact (670)237-6852/3 or email at efnep@marianas.edu/.
