Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)
The Today’s Mom program provides nutrition education to limited-resource moms-to-be, while contributing to their personal development, physical development, and to the nutritional welfare of baby.
Today’s Mom was originally developed in 1987 as a nutritional approach to combat infant mortality in Alabama. The leading contributor to infant mortality is low baby birth weight of less than 5 pounds. Today’s Mom teaches moms-to-be nutrition along with healthy lifestyle choices to help ensure successful birth outcomes. Eating well can help moms-to-be have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. In conjunction with diet, physical activity can help them have a more comfortable pregnancy and easier delivery. Today’s Mom aims to improve the dietary and physical activity habits of moms-to-be in ways that are sustainable before, during, and after pregnancy.
The program is comprised of a series of six lessons, each containing clearly stated goals. Each lesson consists of verbal and written instructions along with interactive activities designed to help moms-to-be learn to make healthy diet and physical activity choices for themselves and their babies. Today’s Mom lessons are designed for ease of preparation and implementation. Lessons are scripted to make delivery easy. Accompanying materials reinforce lesson concepts and make learning about healthy eating simple and fun. Each lesson includes hands-on activities, recipes, and more. Activities reinforce concepts in ways that are fun and interactive. Lesson themes build upon each other to provide moms-to-be with a comprehensive understanding of how to care for themselves and their babies pre- and postnatal.
Lessons and Goals
- Lesson 1, Hello Baby. Goals: Relief from common pregnancy discomforts and increased physical activity when pregnant.
- Lesson 2: Building Baby. Goals: Healthy eating for you and baby.
- Lesson 3: Feeding Baby. Goals: Properly reading food labels and monitoring special nutrient needs during pregnancy.
- Lesson 4: Fun in the Kitchen with Baby. Goals: Preparing food safely in the kitchen and making easy menu plans.
- Lesson 5: Eating on the Run with Baby. Goals: Making healthy food choices at fast food restaurants, selecting low-fat foods, and keeping active throughout pregnancy.
- Lesson 6: Welcome Home Baby. Goals: Feeding baby and having appropriate physical activity.
View a sample Today’s Mom lesson.
A number of Today’s Mom resources are free and available for download below.
Today's Mom Downloadable Resources
| Thumbnail | Name | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|---|
 | All About Me Survey Form | PDF – FCS-2086 | |
 | All About Me Poster | ||
 | A Closer Look Survey | PDF - FCS-2065 | PDF - FCS-2316 |
 | A Closer Look Poster | ||
 | What Does Baby Eat? Survey Form | ||
 | What Does Baby Eat? Poster | ||
 | Cooking with Ease | ||
 | My Plate for Mom and Baby | ||
 | Quick and Easy Meals | ||
 | Secret Foods for Health | ||
 | Feel Good Recipes | ||
 | Eating in the Fast Lane at Home | ||
 | Snacks and S'mores | ||
 | Graduation Certificate | PDF – FCS-2072 | PDF – FCS-2320 |
 | Baby Certificate | ||
 | Program Flyer | ||
 | Pocket Folder | ||
 | Order Form | ||
 | Referral Form | ||
 | Today's Mom Nutrition Facts Label Handout | PDF – FCS-2593 | |
 | Recipe Magnet Series, FCS-2587 (a,b,c,d,e,f) | ||
 | Today's Mom Drop Off Here Sign, FCS-2607 | ||
 | Today's Mom Directional Sign, FCS-2608 | ||
 | Today's Mom Supporter Magnet, FCS-2611 |
Today's Mom Customizable Downloads
| Thumbnail | Name | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|---|
 | All About Me Survey Form | ||
 | A Closer Look Survey Form | ||
 | What Does Baby Eat? Survey Form | ||
 | Hello Baby Conversation | ||
 | From Seed to Melon | ||
 | Cooking with Ease | ||
 | My Plate for Mom and Baby | ||
 | Quick and Easy Meals | ||
 | Secret Foods for Health | ||
 | Feel Good Recipes | ||
 | Eating in the Fast Lane at Home | ||
 | Snacks and S'mores | ||
 | Graduation Certificate | PDF – FCS-2093 | PDF – FCS-2368 |
 | Baby Certificate | ||
 | Program Flyer | ||
 | Pocket Folder |
All materials used in the lessons follow the most current food recommendations and standards of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the United States Department of Agriculture.
Contact your local Extension office for more information. Follow Alabama EFNEP on Facebook and Twitter. Text EFNEP to 555888 to receive nutrition tips.