(a) General. Nutrition education shall be thoroughly integrated into Program operations. Nutrition education shall be designed to be easily understood by individual participants and shall bear a practical relationship to their nutritional needs and household situations.

(b) Goals. Nutrition education shall be based on the following two broad goals: (1) To emphasize the relationship of proper nutrition to the total concept of good health, with special emphasis on the nutritional needs of pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants and children under 6 years of age; and

(2) To assist participants in obtaining a positive change in food habits, resulting in improved nutritional status and in the prevention of nutrition related problems through maximum use of the supplemental and other nutritious foods. This use is to be within the context of ethnic, cultural and geographic preferences. Consideration should also be given to tailoring nutrition education to meet any limitations experienced by groups of participants, such as lack of running water, lack of electricity, and limited cooking or refrigeration facilities.

(c) State agency responsibilities. The State agency shall ensure that the local agency fully performs its responsibilities as set forth in paragraph (d) of this section. The State agency shall also ensure that an evaluation procedure is maintained to determine the effectiveness of the nutrition education. Such evaluation procedure shall include a systematic procedure for participant input and may be conducted directly by State and local agencies or by contract for such services, so long as the evaluation is directed by a nutritionist or other professional determined by the State agency to be qualified to perform the evaluation procedure.

(d) Local agency responsibilities. (1) The local agency shall make nutrition education available to all adult participants and to parents or guardians of infant and child participants. Where appropriate, nutrition education for child participants is encouraged.

(2) The local agency shall direct Program funds for nutrition education to the benefit of participants and local agency staff members involved in nutrition education, in accordance with this part.

(3) The local agency shall conduct or arrange for nutrition education in a manner consistent with the nutrition education portion of the State Plan.

(4) The local agency shall include the following subject matter in the instruction given to participants:

(i) An explanation of the importance of the consumption of the supplemental foods by the participant for whom they are prescribed rather than by other family members; (ii) reference to any special nutritional needs of participants and ways to provide adequate diets; (iii) an explanation of the Program as a supplemental rather than a total food program; (iv) information on the use of the supplemental foods and on the nutritional value of these foods; (v) information on the benefits of breastfeeding; and (vi) an explanation of the importance of health care.

(e) Food demonstrations. Any food demonstrations using supplemental foods shall be conducted by the State or local agency solely in conjunction with nutrition education and primarily for participants under the Program. Supplemental foods may not be used for outreach, refreshments for participants, or any other such purpose. Supplemental foods may not be provided to any other community agency or facility for any purpose whatsoever, unless such agency has entered into a signed written agreement with the State or local agency to provide nutrition education services under the Program.