Tennessee Nutrition and Consumer Education
Mission: The mission of the Tennessee Nutrition and Consumer Education Program (TNCEP) is to empower limited resource families to reduce the risk of poor nutrition and to effectively use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and related resources while moving toward self-sufficiency.
The Tennessee Nutrition and Consumer Education Program (TNCEP) is a SNAP-Ed program funded by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and managed by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS). USDA FNS provides funding for the Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant Program (SNAP-Ed), and the USDA Southeast Regional office in Atlanta approves funds for SNAP-Ed in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Human Services has the responsibility of contracting with agencies in the state to conduct nutrition education, and UT Extension contracts with TDHS to deliver SNAP-Ed.
The purpose of SNAP-Ed is to improve the likelihood that persons eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will make healthy food choices within a limited budget and choose physically active lifestyles consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and USDA food guidance. The partnership between SNAP and UT Extension supports Extension’s mission to help people improve their lives through an educational process using scientific knowledge to address issues and needs.
TNCEP is conducted through local community-driven coalitions to meet the needs of SNAP recipients and eligibles in each participating county. TNCEP programming includes behaviorally focused, evidence-based nutrition education and obesity prevention interventions that fall within the scope of SNAP-Ed and is consistent with Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) priorities, as outlined in the FFY 2017 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education Plan Guidance: Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant Program.
The SNAP-Ed program in Robertson County offers multi-session classes and one-time programs for youth and adults. Please contact the Robertson County Extension office for information about joining the coalition, offering classes at your organization or attending classes.
Contact Information
Elizabeth Fletcher
TNCEP Program Assistant
Phone: 615-384-7936
Email: eliggrav@utk.edu
Upcoming Events With Elizabeth Graves
Byrum Porter Senior Center; Eat Well Feel Well For Older Adults . Every Wednesday In August @11:00AM.
Nutrition Basics
Nutrition Basics and information are available as a presentation for groups or classes. This includes “Lunch and Learns” and other presentations regarding nutrition, cooking skills, food safety and food resource management.
Nutrition Presentations on various topics for groups. Previous presentations include “Healthy Holidays” and “Heart Health” for workplaces, “Quick Meals” for parent groups and “Choosing Healthy Meals as You Get Older” for senior adults. Contact me to schedule.
Food Safety
Call when you have questions like these…
- Is this food safe to eat?
- What do I do if my electricity is off for a long period of time?
- How long will my food keep in the freezer?
- I am having food storage issues. Can you help me?
We should be able to help you answer all your questions. If you don’t have time to call though, here are some links to help:
- CDC Food Safety
- Food Safety.GOV (This has refrigerated and frozen food charts)
Dining With Diabetes
Dining with Diabetes is a program designed for people with diabetes and their family members. This is a series that includes learning how to manage diabetes and how to prepare healthy meals that help the diabetic control their blood sugar.
County UT Extension educators deliver the Dining with Diabetes Program in collaboration with other county health care professionals. Community awareness about diabetes is increased through media activities conducted by UT Extension educators. These professionals serve as health messengers who promote the educational programs and resources available to diabetics in their communities and disseminate diabetes information to persons with diabetes and their caregivers. All of UT Extension’s educational activities support the goals and educational messages of the, and of the National Diabetes Education Program, and the American Diabetes Association.
The objectives of the program include:
- Enhance knowledge about healthy food choices for the diabetic diet
- Understand the importance of managing their diabetes
- Learn healthy versions of familiar foods
- Use proper cooking techniques for such products as artificial sweeteners, reduced-fat replacers, and herbs and spices
- Get motivated to make specific changes by taste-testing new recipes
- Recognize that University of Tennessee Extension educators can provide basic information about diabetes and nutrition in partnership with health professionals in their communities
- Share and learn from one another
- Have fun and learning new eating skills
What Dining with Diabetes isn’t:
- Does not replace diabetes counseling delivered by a qualified health professional
- Does not provide individualized meal plans for participants
- Does not provide individualized goals for calories, carbohydrates, fat and sodium