FoodWIse Extension Dane County

In 2024, FoodWIse SNAP-Ed in Dane County reached:
- 2,248 direct participants
- 14 schools, and
- 52 total partners

SNAP-Ed helps us build stronger families and communities – one meal, one class, one change at a time.

We’re proud to partner with Hawthorne Elementary School to make healthy choices easier for youth in Madison.
Together, we’ve offered nutrition education to hundreds of youth just at Hawthorne last year, and even more this year!
Kids learn about fruits and veggies, , and the importance of food and exercise for health.
This is the SNAP-Ed mission at work, right here in Dane County.

Looking for healthy snacks to make with your kids? Dane County FoodWIse has released our new Summer Youth Recipes booklet full of healthy, simple, & affordable snacks to beat the summer heat!

Download the recipe booklet and see more info about free FoodWIse education at dane.uwex.edu/foodwise/favorite-recipes/

Preparing lesson plans is more than just a task—it’s a creative process. Our educators bring passion and enthusiasm to their work, and that energy truly shines through in every lesson. Their love for teaching inspires meaningful and impactful learning experiences for our participants.

"I would also like to thank Professor Edwin for the nutrition course. The course was extremely enjoyable, dynamic, explicit, and above all, very important and interesting for leading a healthier life."

A huge thank you to all the FoodWIse educators for your dedication and hard work—you make a real difference every day!

Sandburg Elementary is in full bloom thanks to our recent gardening project! This collaboration between FoodWIse, Sandburg Elementary, and our Horticulture Specialist Lisa Johnson gave 5th-grade students a hands-on lesson in growing their own food, and it was a huge success.

Our work doesn’t stop in the garden. In the kitchen, educators like Professor Edwin H. bring learning to life. As one participant shared: "Professor Edwin H. is excellent. He knows how to explain things very well and integrates us into making the recipes, as well as making sure that we have all learned. I 100% recommend the course."

Edwin is planting knowledge, growing confidence, and nourishing our communities—one project at a time.

We recently celebrated the graduation of participants from Eating Smart, Being Active, a 7-session nutrition series hosted in collaboration with The Allied Wellness Center at the Boys & Girls Club in Fitchburg.

We're proud to have educators like Edwin, who continues to make a powerful impact in our community. As one participant shared: "Very grateful to have this class where I live. I know it is helping me get more balanced and stronger. And Edwin is a great instructor."

Thank you, Edwin, for your heart, your humor, and your dedication.

:🍽️ What’s on a summer meals plate?
🍗 Lean protein to fuel growing muscles
🌾 Whole grains to stay energized
🍊 Colorful fruit to boost immune systems
🥒 Fresh veggies to support focus and learning

We’re serving up delicious and nutritious meals like this one all summer long!

📍 Find a site near you: KidsMealsDMV.org | ComidasParaNinos.org

Educators do more than teach, they create spaces that feel safe, welcoming, and empowering. Here’s what one participant had to say about our incredible educator: "Mi experiencia en este programa fue muy buena porque aprendí recetas fáciles, económicas y saludables. Aprendí a comer saludablemente y a hacer ejercicio. Edwin fue muy amable y su comida estaba deliciosa. Muchas gracias."

"My experience in this program was very good because I learned easy, affordable, and healthy recipes. I learned how to eat smart, and I learned how to exercise. Edwin was very kind, and his food was delicious. Thank you very much."

Thank you, Edwin, for your work and dedication.

Most families use their monthly SNAP benefits within the first 2 weeks. Running out of benefits increases hospital visits and disciplinary issues in school.

SNAP-Ed, implemented in Wisconsin through FoodWIse, teaches families to stretch their food dollars and limit food waste so they have food throughout the entire month.

How? FoodWIse teaches SNAP participants the skills to prepare affordable, nutritious meals, like reading and using food labels to make decisions about purchases, planning meals, shopping with a grocery list, and comparing food prices to find the best value.

The result: FoodWIse participants across Wisconsin report healthier habits and stronger food skills after completing SNAP-Ed nutrition education.
FoodWIse, funded in part SNAP-Ed, delivers nutrition education that’s timely, budget-conscious, and rooted in Wisconsin communities. Learn more at go.wisc.edu/SNAP-Ed-Works

FoodWIse, a Wisconsin nutrition education program funded in part by SNAP-Ed, helps people make healthy choices and stretch their food dollars – right where they live, learn, work and play.

In 2024, FoodWIse reached nearly 98,000 Wisconsinites through nutrition education and community-based changes that made healthy food and physical activity more accessible. Learn more at go.wisc.edu/SNAP-Ed-Works

Here in Dane County, FoodWIse is helping families eat better, move more, and stretch their food dollars. From hands-on cooking classes to grocery store tours and school gardens, our work supports real, lasting change.
FoodWIse education reached not only youth in schools but also over 300 working adults and 200 seniors last year! Nutrition is vital at all ages, so FoodWIse teaches all ages!

EFNEP makes a difference! Here's just a taste of all the things EFNEP (The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program) does throughout the country. Learn about what the FoodWIse EFNEP program is doing in your community! https://dane.uwex.edu/foodwise