1. School Garden Programs

2. Problem Statement
Elementary aged students do not have a balanced diet that includes the nutritional recommend servings of fruits and vegetables. This deficiency leads to the early onset of serious health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

3. Thesis Question
Does the participation in school garden programs positively alter Elementary aged student’s attitudes towards fruits and vegetable, and therefor increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables?

4. Barriers At Home Bitter and/or sour taste of raw foods
Organic is more costly and less readily available
Lack of Early Exposure and role models
No access to garden space
At School
Lack of time
Weather Depend
Lack of teachers’ interest, knowledge, experience and training
Lack of curricular materials linked to academic standards

5. Core Knowledge Categories
Science
Environmental Mind-set
Cooking
Mathematics
Social/Emotional
Art

6. Evaluation Tools Pre & Post Surveys (Measure Knowledge and Preference)
Preference Questionnaires (Taste & Rate)
Lunchroom Observations (What veggie were chosen? Did the child consume the veggie? How much was eaten?)
Food Journals (Log items consumed)
Photo Elicitation (Do the children look healthier?)
Dialogue & Interviews (What did you eat? How is your energy?)

7. Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden
SAKG program
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden
Involvement in Schools Gardens is correlated with an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption.
However, the results are temporary (Lasting 10 months)
Need continued Exposure
Cooking Component

8. Early Sprouts A seed-to-table gardening and nutrition curriculum
The goal is to foster a love of vegetables at a critical early age
Growing, harvesting and preparing organically grown foods to promote healthy eating habits

9. Conclusion
Involvement in a school garden program is effective at positively changing student’s attitudes towards fruits and vegetables, thus increasing consumption and therefor contributing to a healthier life experience with lower risk of serious health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

10. Looking Ahead Start Nutrition Education Early
Incorporate the school garden into diverse subject areas
Have students harvest and cook with produce
Invite parents to get involved, send home nutrition information and easy recipes
Increase teacher’s knowledge and training in gardening
Continued Exposure

11. References
DeMarco, L. W., Relf, D., & McDaniel, A. (1999). Integrating Gardening into the Elementary School Curriculum. HortTechnology,
Gibbs, L., PhD, Staiger, P. K., PhD, Johnson, B., BHSc, Block, K., MPH, Macfarlane, S., BScPsych, Gold, L., PhD, Ukoumunne, O., PhD. (2013, November 2). Expanding Children’s Food Experiences: The Impact of a School-Based Kitchen Garden Program. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 45, Retrieved from article/pii/S
Graham, H., Ms, RD, Beall, D. L., MS, RD, Lussier, M., MPH, RD, McLaughlin, P., PhD, & Zidenberg- Cherr, S., PhD. (2005, May/June). Use of School Gardens in Academic Instruction. Society of Nutrition Education, 37(3),
McAlesse, J. D., & Rankin, L. L. (2007, April). Garden-Based Nutrition Education Affects Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Sixth-Grade Adolescents. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 107, 4th ser., Retrieved from pii/S

12. Reference Continued
Morris, J. L., PhD, & Zidenberg-Cherr, S., PhD. (2002, January). Garden-enhaned nutrition curriculum improves frouth-grade school children's knowledge of nutrition and preferences for some vegetables. The American Dietetic Association, 102(1),
Parmer, S. M., Salisbyr-Glennon, J., Shannon, D., & Struempler, B. (2009, November 3). School Gardens: An Experiential Learning Approach for a Nutrition Education Program to Increase Fruit and Vegetable Knowledge, Perference, and Consumption among Second-grade Students. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 41(3), Retrieved from
Robinson, C. W., & Zajicek, J. M. (2005). 453 July–September (3) Growing Minds: The Effects of a One- year School Garden Program on Six Constructs of Life Skills of Elementary School Children. Retrieved from html
Robinson-O'Brien, R., PhD, Story, M., Phd, RD, & Heim, S., MPH. (2009, February). Impact of Garden-Based Youth Nutrition Intervention Programs: A Review. American Dietetic Association, 109(2),
Thorp, L., & Townsend, C. (2001, December 12). Agricultural Education in an Elementary School: An Ethnographic Study of a School Garden. 28th Annual National Agricultural Education Research Conference, Retrieved from biblio/ Agricultural Education in an Elementary School.pdf