The Northern Marianas College (NMC) Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Services (CREES) Nutrition & Health is working to make proven federal nutrition education resources more relevant for families in the CNMI and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific. Through a partnership with Colorado State University (CSU), NMC-CREES is adapting the Eating Smart, Being Active (ESBA) curriculum with photos of familiar faces, local landmarks, and island-grown fruits and vegetables. ESBA is the curriculum of choice in over 40 U.S. states and territories. This effort reflects national priorities to deliver efficient, results-driven programs that strengthen families and communities. The curriculum is throughout all 50 states including its territories.
ESBA is offered in the Northern Mariana Islands through the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), a USDA initiative available nationwide. EFNEP is designed to give limited-resource families and youth the skills they need to improve dietary quality and physical activity, practice food safety, manage food resources wisely, and strengthen family health. By emphasizing personal responsibility, hands-on learning, and practical skills, EFNEP supports self-reliance and helps reduce long-term healthcare costs.
The program is offered at no cost to participants on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. Graduates often highlight the useful skills they have gained—such as safe food preparation, stretching family food budgets, and preparing healthier alternatives to common island dishes. These skills not only benefit households but also contribute to stronger, more resilient communities.
The new photo adaptation project ensures that program materials reflect the people and places of the CNMI and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific. Since May 2025, local photoshoots have featured past EFNEP graduates and community members in recognizable gathering places like American Memorial Park and local beaches. By showing familiar faces and places, the updated curriculum encourages participants to connect more deeply with lessons that directly apply to their daily lives.
“By adapting this national curriculum, we are making sure our families have the tools they need to make healthier choices while reflecting images of island life. This project not only strengthens skills in the kitchen and at the table, but also reinforces the value of family health, self-reliance, and community strength.” stated Patty Coleman, NMC-CREES Interim Dean.
The updated curriculum, which will be completed this Fall, is a cost-effective way to make a proven national program more relevant in the islands. Partners in Guam, Hawaiʻi, the Freely Associated States, and states in the continental U.S. that provide nutrition education to Pacific Islander audiences have expressed interest in using the Pacific ESBA option.
For more information about the Nutrition & Health Program or to register for the next EFNEP cohort, please contact Ashley Sikayun at (670) 237-6853 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Familiar faces and places: NMC-CREES is localizing the “Eating Smart, Being Active” nutrition curriculum. The curriculum adaptation will feature photos of familiar faces and landmarks from the CNMI as well as fruits and vegetables common in island communities, making the materials more relevant for residents. Pictured left is the existing photo on the current ESBA worksheets, right shows the new image.
An EFNEP participant looks over the lesson handouts. Future participants can expect to see Saipan landmarks and local models.