Evaluation of a USDA nutrition education program for low-income youth.

Objective: Examine effectiveness of a state's Youth Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and assess the validity of the federal impact indicator method for reporting program outcomes.

Design: A randomized, controlled field trial of 229 groups with 5,111 youth, 9-12 years old, in community settings.

Intervention: 6- to 8- hour, 7-lesson education experience with food preparation and tasting, an education experience typical of EFNEP in California.