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First-grade Gardeners More Likely to Taste Vegetables

An Evidence-Based Practice

This practice has been Archived and is no longer maintained.

Description

A garden-enhanced nutrition education program was developed and taught to first-graders in order to encourage them to eat more fruits and vegetables. Improving children's willingness to taste vegetables is thought to be the first step in developing healthier eating patterns.

Goal / Mission

The goal of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility of garden-based education programs for elementary-school students in order to develop and evaluate a comprehensive, garden-enhanced nutrition education program for elementary students.

Results / Accomplishments

Ninety-seven first-grade students participated in the pilot study, with 48 in the intervention group, and 49 in the control group. The children in the intervention group who grew the vegetables in the gardens were more willing to taste certain vegetables. Researchers also concluded that it is possible to conduct a garden-enhanced nutrition education program within a school year.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
University of California, Davis
Primary Contact
No current contact information available
Topics
Health / Children's Health
Environmental Health / Built Environment
Organization(s)
University of California, Davis
Date of publication
Jan 2001
Location
California
For more details
Target Audience
Children
Michigan Health Improvement Alliance