Integrating local agriculture into nutrition programs can benefit children's health

Scherr, Rachel E.; Cox, Rachel; Feenstra, Gail; Zidenberg‐Cherr, Sheri

doi:10.3733/ca.v067n01p30

Cited by 15 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…This study further supports recent findings from a review of garden-based youth nutrition intervention programs, highlighting the need to establish a standard for program design, implementation, and evaluation [11]. A systematic approach supports effective research designs and measurable outcomes, as a way to quantify not only theory-based but also the promising impact of garden-based nutrition education programs [12]. The outcomes of this intervention impacted variables that have been linked to positive behavior change.…”

Section: Within Schoolssupporting

confidence: 77%

“…Results from these programs are showing increases in children's consumption of locally grown foods in a healthier food environment [12,21,22]. Common sense suggests that a healthier food environment increases the opportunity for children to establish healthy food choices, an essential ingredient for the formation of life long food habits [6,23].…”

Section: Within Schoolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These programs create access to a healthy food environment where children can actively reconnect with local food production to learn how healthy and nutritious food is grown in an environmentally conscious way [11]. An effective way to educate and empower children to develop healthy food choices, this approach further supports learning about the interconnection between sustainable food systems and environmental stewardship [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A pilot study for plant the seed: a nutrition education program using local food environment to put theory into action

Lee¹,

Bai²,

Wunderlich³

2016

Int. J. SDP

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The purpose of this study is to implement Plant the Seed, a garden-based nutrition education program designed to reconnect children with locally grown food, food environments of the past and present, and the benefits of eating seasonal foods. The pilot study investigates environmental context and theory variables known to influence healthy food choice behavior. Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) provided a framework for the program's curriculum and evaluation. The target audience is middle school students. Plant the Seed is a two-part program. In Part 1 (classroom), students participate in practical, interactive activities based on specific educational objectives that target theory mediators. In Part 2 (field trip), students rotate through the community farm, kitchen herb garden and historic kitchen to engage in hands-on program activities. Pretest/posttest evaluation compared control and intervention students from two schools measured program effectiveness. Intervention school students (n = 16) improved behavioral intention (3.40 vs 3.53, P = 0.34), historical social norm (3.40 vs 3.79, P = 0.03), and outcome expectations (3.91 vs 4.19, P = 0.03). No change in variables among control students (n = 10). Plant the Seed had a positive impact on factors associated with healthy eating behavior. This program demonstrates how to effectively engage community resources, to promote the development and implementation of gardening environments that create hands-on opportunities for children to become directly connected to local food production, to learn about the environmental benefits of eating locally grown foods and to allow children to have access to a positive, sustainable food environment. Plant the Seed can serve as a model for future theory and garden-based nutrition intervention programs.

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Section: Within Schoolssupporting

confidence: 77%

Section: Within Schoolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A pilot study for plant the seed: a nutrition education program using local food environment to put theory into action

Lee¹,

Bai²,

Wunderlich³

2016

Int. J. SDP

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show abstract

“…School gardens can be a positive infl uence in shaping eating habits in children, and potentially infl uencing their lifestyle choices as adults, by normalizing a healthy, balanced diet including fresh fruits and vegetables. These benefi ts may be best actualized through multi-component interventions that combine gardening with nutrition education and other activities such as Farm to School programs, community input, family involvement and improving school policies and practices (Scherr et al 2013 ).…”

Section: Youth Gardening and Dietmentioning

confidence: 99%

Harvesting Health in the Garden

Alaimo

Crawford

Snyder

2016

Sowing Seeds in the City

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Among the primary health benefi ts associated with community garden ing are improvements in the healthfulness of gardeners' diets and the amount of physical activity . Community garden s can make it easier for participants to adopt healthier behaviors because they can provide greater access to fruits and vegetables, increase preferences for fruits and vegetables, and serve as safe places for physical activity, social support , emotional attachment , and connection with nature and community (Alaimo et al.

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“…S chool-based programs have been successful in improving nutrition knowledge, food preferences, dietary intake and body weight outcomes in youth (Healthy Study Group et al 2010;Scherr et al 2013). However, youth can relapse to inactive, less healthy lifestyles over summer vacations when the days have less structure and access to school and summer food program meal service is limited (Hopkins and Gunther 2015;Tovar et al 2010).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Lessons learned: How summer camps reduce risk factors of childhood obesity

George¹,

Kaiser²,

Schneider³

2016

Calif Agr

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The purpose of this article is to present findings related to parent-and youth-reported outcomes from a nutrition-and fitness-themed summer camp targeting low-income families and to identify lessons learned in the implementation, evaluation and sustainability of a summer program. The Healthy Lifestyle Fitness Camp, offered through UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE), was a summer camp program for lowincome youth at high risk for obesity. Among youth 2 to 19 years of age, prevalence of overweight and obesity is highest among boys and girls who are Hispanic (38.9%) and non-Hispanic African-American (35.2%) and lowest in non-Hispanic white (28.5%) and Asian (19.5%) youth (Ogden et al. 2014). Obese youth are more likely than non-obese youth to be exposed to bullying and to suffer from psychosocial problems (Maggio et al. 2014); they also have increased rates of school absenteeism (Pan et al. 2013). Four European longitudinal studies found that childhood obesity persisting into adulthood increases risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, elevated blood lipids and atherosclerosis (Juonala Participation in a summer camp that focused on nutrition education and fitness resulted in weight loss and a decreased waist-to-height ratio.

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Integrating local agriculture into nutrition programs can benefit children's health

Cited by 15 publications

References 18 publications

A pilot study for plant the seed: a nutrition education program using local food environment to put theory into action

A pilot study for plant the seed: a nutrition education program using local food environment to put theory into action

Harvesting Health in the Garden

Lessons learned: How summer camps reduce risk factors of childhood obesity

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