267248 Growing healthy students: Statewide impact of gardening and nutrition education curriculum on health behaviors in low-income schools

Monday, October 29, 2012

Kimberly Norris, Statewide Evaluation Coordinator for Food Supplement Nutrition Education Program , Extension, University of Maryland, Columbia, MD
Erin Braunscheidel, MHS, RD, LDN , Food Supplement Nutrition Education, University of Maryland Extension, Columbia, MD
Lisa Lachenmayr, Director, MD Food Supplement Nutrition Education Program , Extension, University of Maryland, Columbia, MD
Lisa Gonzalez, MD Food Supplement Nutrition Education program Garden and Nutrition Education Coordinator , Extension, University of Maryland, Columbia, MD
Lynn Rubin, Food Supplement Nutrition Education Agent , Extension, University of Maryland, Columbia, MD
INTRODUCTION: Many children do not eat a healthful diet, and do not eat enough fruits and vegetables. University of Maryland Food Supplement Nutrition Education (UME FSNE) designed an evaluation to determine if a gardening and nutrition education curriculum matching state curriculum standards, Growing Healthy Habits (GHH), increased the number of new fruits and vegetables students tasted, increased student preference for fruits and vegetables, and improved healthy eating practices in classrooms. METHODS: 757 students from 27 elementary school classrooms in schools having at least 50 percent of students eligible for free and reduced meals participated in GHH program evaluations. Classrooms were selected through a convenience sample of teachers trained to use curriculum and evaluation tools. Students received pre- and post-program surveys to ascertain tasting experiences and preference for 22 fruits and vegetables. Teachers providing email addresses received post-program on-line surveys to confirm the accuracy of student responses regarding foods tasted, assess changes in nutrition-related teacher behaviors; and assess teacher observations of nutrition-related student behaviors. Data were analyzed using frequency and comparison statistics. RESULTS: Children participating in GHH programs significantly increased fruits and vegetables tasted. Younger student program participants (grades K-2) significantly increased preference for fruits and vegetables tasted. Teacher program participants increased frequency of teaching nutrition and practiced healthier eating behaviors. Teachers observed healthier nutrition-related choices made by student participants. DISCUSSION: Findings suggest GHH can be successfully used in low-income elementary school settings to improve preference for fruits and vegetables, and increase nutrition education and healthy eating practices in classrooms.

Learning Areas:
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
List features of GHH evaluation designed to assess tasting experiences, taste preference, and dietary behavior changes Assess the impact of GHH on fruit and vegetable taste preference and dietary behaviors for children and teachers in low-income schools Compare impacts on fruit and vegetable taste preference and dietary behaviors for different age groups and program delivery styles

Keywords: Children, Nutrition

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I helped to create and publish the Growing Healthy Habits, I helped to promote its use across the State of Maryland, I trained educators on using and evaluating the curriculum, and I helped to collect evaluation data for analysis.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3186.0: Children's Dietary Patterns and Nutrition in School and Child Care Settings