WVU Extension - Family Nutrition Program

Have you been searching for affordable meals that your whole family will love? We have some ideas that are delicious and nutritious!

🥕 Oven Fried Chicken: https://recipes.snapexpress.org/oven-fried-chicken/. This recipe is from the SNAP Express website, where you can order ingredients for pick up or delivery.
🥕 Beef & Noodles: https://www.myplate.gov/recipes/beef-noodles. This recipe from the MyPlate website only uses a few ingredients, so it's quick and easy to make.
🥕 Did you know that it's often cheaper to buy produce that's in season? For example, you could plan to make recipes that include mangos in the Fall, and Brussels sprouts in the winter. You can find out what's in season here: https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/resources/nutrition-education-materials/seasonal-produce-guide

Stay tuned! We'll be sharing more recipe ideas soon. 😁

Federal Legislation ended funding of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) after federal fiscal year 2025. This has been the WVU Extension Family Nutrition Program's largest source of funding. As a result of the elimination of SNAP-Ed funding, public health projects and programs such as the Grow This: West Virginia Garden Challenge, Kids Market @ the Store, and Rethink Your Drink, will no longer be offered through the WVU Extension Family Nutrition Program after September 30, 2025. The cuts have led to the elimination of 33.5 SNAP-Ed funded positions, which includes 27 health educators and program administrators, as well as 6.5 FTE nutrition outreach instructors.

So, let's talk about which programming will still be available. The program's other major source of funding is the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). The current year’s EFNEP funding will allow the WVU Extension Family Nutrition Program to retain 15 part-time nutrition outreach instructors who will continue to serve 21 counties. The instructors will not be available to serve their communities full time due to the loss of SNAP-Ed funding. Moving forward, the WVU Extension Family Nutrition Program will be restricted to providing nutrition education classes for youth and adults with limited resources, such as those that are eligible for SNAP and WIC.

Thank you to everyone who has participated in our SNAP-Ed programming over the years. You've helped us make an impact in communities across West Virginia.

Today, we're celebrating Kids Market @ the Store, a program that allows kids to "shop" for fresh fruits and vegetables — for free — at local retailers. This program helps kids learn money skills, and gives them the opportunity to try new, healthy foods.

Here are some of the program's accomplishments over the last few years:

🌱 Most of the produce you see on our Kids Market @ the Store stands is locally grown. Since 2021, our program has pumped over a quarter of a million dollars into the local food economy by paying West Virginia farmers up front for their produce.
🌱 In 2024, over 7,000 kids participated in 34 counties across West Virginia. Since 2021, the program has reached over 18,000 kids and nearly 8,000 families.
🌱 683 parents/guardians completed a survey after participating in Kids Market @ the Store in 2024. On average, children added one fruit and vegetable serving per day.

Federal Legislation ended funding of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) after federal fiscal year 2025. This has been the WVU Extension Family Nutrition Program's largest source of funding. As a result of the elimination of SNAP-Ed funding, public health projects and programs such as the Grow This: West Virginia Garden Challenge, Kids Market @ the Store, and Rethink Your Drink, will no longer be offered through the WVU Extension Family Nutrition Program after September 30, 2025.

As we prepare to wrap up this programming, we would love to hear about your experience participating in Kids Market @ the Store! Please leave your stories in the comments.