Cornell Cooperative Extension

Rockland County
Nutrition Program Educator Myra McKinney (center) leads a hands-on cooking class at CCE-Tompkins (2007)

A group class at CCE-Tompkins

A Cooking Matters class in the Cargill Teaching Kitchen at CCE-Tompkins with participants from Finger Lakes Independence Center (June 2012)
Image by Sandy Repp

A group nutrition class for individuals from the Finger Lakes Independence Center in Ithaca, NY (2012)

Family members make a meal together during a "Cooking Together for Family Meals" class in Groton, NY, coordinated by CCE-Tompkins and Groton's Families! program (May 2010).

A group nutrition class offered by CCE-Tompkins for participants in the Groton's Families! program (May 2010).

For Agencies

Call today and arrange to partner with our staff to bring FREE nutrition education to clients who qualify for and/or receive benefits through SNAP, WIC, Head Start, Medicaid, TANF or SSI  Choose a one-time lesson or a series of hands-on, interactive lessons led by a trained nutrition educator at your location or ours, or at another community site.  Participants learn and are encouraged to improve their food and physical activity knowledge, skills and behaviors.  

Lesson topics may include:

  • Eating Well for Less (Saving Food Dollars)
  • Feeding Young Children
  • Keeping Food Safe
  • Making Healthy Choices and Modifying Recipes (amount of fat, sugar, and sodium in food)
  • Reading a Nutrition Label to make healthier choices
  • Using MyPlate to help plan healthy meals

Key messages include:

  • Eat fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and nonfat or low-fat milk or milk products every day.
  • Be physically active every day as part of a healthy lifestyle.
  • Balance calories eaten from foods and beverages with calories used when being physically active.

How to request a program:

Just call the contact listed below and ask to make a referral to the nutrition education program.

Last updated December 13, 2021

Food & Nutrition

Who Do We Serve?

You can sign up for our FREE Eat Smart New York classes if you now receive (or are eligible to receive) food assistance through:

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as Food Stamps)

WIC (Women, Infant & Children’s Supplemental Food Assistance Program)

MEDICAID or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)

FREE OR REDUCED PRICE SCHOOL MEALS: for students -- or families of students -- who go to a school where more than 50% of the students receive Free or Reduced Price School Meals.

We also serve County residents who participate in (or are eligible for) HEAD START, or who receive SSI or AFDC.

To find out if you are SNAP eligible go to:

myBenefits.ny.gov