Family Nutrition Program

The Family Nutrition Program is operated by the Pasco Extension Office from a satellite office in Land O' Lakes, Florida. The program, funded by the USDA, is specifically designed to target Title 1 schools and low income families to include education for both children and the elderly. The Family Nutrition Program has four program assistants and a program manager all experts in family nutrition education. Program assistants work throughout many Pasco County schools, organizations, and with volunteer groups to provide education on topics ranging from healthy eating and school garden guidance/aid to obesity prevention. For more information, or to see if your school or organization is eligible for educational services on site, please contact Syreeta McDonald, Program Manager, at mcdonald.sy@ufl.edu or call 813-929-2725. 

Visit UF's State Family Nutrition Program Website. 

What are SNAP/SNAP-Ed and FNP?

One in three children in the US are overweight or obese.  Yet at the same time, one in five families struggle with food insecurity — not knowing from one day to the next whether their families will have enough to eat.

Nationally, SNAP and SNAP-Ed, locally Pasco Family Nutrition Program (FNP), are working hand-in-hand to help support families to eat healthily.  SNAP (food stamps) provides families with support in affording food; SNAP-Ed, the nutrition education program, helps SNAP and low-income families find, buy and prepare healthier foods on their limited budgets.  From schools, to the YMCA, to farmer's markets, SNAP-Ed works.

Nutrition Education Resources

• Our new SNAP-Ed infographic illustration demonstrates how critical SNAP-Ed is in supporting healthy eating: though it makes up just a fraction of SNAP funding, SNAP-Ed efforts are making a real difference.
• Healthy Food Choices in Schools
  A program that provides free online educational/informational tools and resources that empower school foodservice directors and staff, school administrators, teachers, health professionals, parents and after-school programs to make changes that encourage children to make healthier food selections in school food environments, without undermining revenue.
• "Lunch Box Safety" (3:25) Dr. Keith Schneider explains how to keep children's lunch from home a safe one.
• What's on YOUR Plate?  If you haven't heard, USDA just replaced MyPyramid with MyPlate to help consumers make healthy choices.  MORE...
• MyPlate Nutrition Healthy Eating Series - Ten Tips