The Impact of School Gardening on Cree Children's Knowledge and Attitudes toward Vegetables and Fruit

Publication: Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
21 May 2015

Abstract

Purpose: School-based interventions may increase children's preferences for vegetables and fruit (V&F). This Canadian study measured changes in Indigenous First Nations schoolchildren's V&F knowledge, preferences, and home consumption following the implementation of a gardening and V&F snack program.
Methods: At baseline, 7 months, and 18 months, children in grades 1–6 (i) listed at least 5 V&F they knew, (ii) tasted and indicated their preferences towards 9 vegetables and 8 fruit using a 6-point Likert scale, and (iii) indicated their home consumption of 17 V&F.
Results: At all 3 time points, 56.8% (n = 66/116) of children provided data. Children listed a greater number of V&F at 18 months (4.9 ± 0.1) than at baseline (4.5 ± 1.0) or 7 months (4.7 ± .07) (F(1.6,105.6) = 6.225, P < 0.05). Vegetable preferences became more positive between baseline (37.9 ± 9.3) and 7 months (39.9 ± 9.2), but returned to baseline levels at 18 months (37.3 ± 8.7) (F(1.6,105.8) = 4.581, P < 0.05). Fruit preferences at 18 months (42.7 ± 3.0) were greater than at baseline (41.1 ± 4.3) and at 7 months (41.9 ± 5.1) (F(1.7,113.3) = 3.409, P < 0.05). No change in V&F consumption occurred at home.
Conclusions: Despite improvements in V&F knowledge and preferences, home consumption of V&F did not occur. Complementing school-based programs with home-based components may be needed to influence V&F intake of children.

Résumé

Objectif. Les interventions en milieu scolaire pourraient augmenter l'appréciation des légumes et fruits (L et F) chez les enfants. Cette étude canadienne a mesuré les changements quant aux connaissances relatives aux L et F d'écoliers indigènes des Premières nations, leurs préférences et leur consommation de légumes et fruits à la maison après la mise en œuvre d'un programme de jardinage et de collations à base de L et F.
Méthodes. Au début de l'étude, à 7 mois et à 18 mois, des enfants de la 1re à la 6e année ont : (i) dressé la liste d'au moins 5 L et F qu'ils connaissaient; (ii) goûté à 9 légumes et 8 fruits et indiqué leurs préférences sur une échelle de Likert à 6 points et; (iii) indiqué leur consommation à la maison de 17 L et F.
Résultats. À chacun des 3 points dans le temps, 56,8% (n = 66/116) des enfants ont fourni des données. Les enfants ont énuméré un plus grand nombre de L et F à 18 mois (4,9 ± 0,1) qu'au début de l'étude (4,5 ± 1,0) ou à 7 mois (4,7 ± 0,07) (F(1,6;105,6) = 6,225; p < 0,05). L'appréciation des légumes a augmenté entre le début de l'étude (37,9 ± 9,3) et 7 mois (39,9 ± 9,2), pour ensuite revenir aux valeurs initiales à 18 mois (37,3 ± 8,7) (F(1,6;105,8) = 4,581; p < 0,05). L'appréciation des fruits à 18 mois (42,7 ± 3,0) était plus marquée qu'au début de l'étude (41,1 ± 4,3) et qu'à 7 mois (41,9 ± 5,1) (F(1,7;113,3) = 3,409; p < 0,05). Aucun changement n'est survenu quant à la consommation de L et F à la maison.
Conclusions. En dépit des améliorations en lien avec les connaissances et l'appréciation des L et F, la consommation de L et F à la maison ne s'est pas produite. Il pourrait être nécessaire de compléter les programmes en milieu scolaire avec certains éléments à la maison pour influencer la consommation de L et F des enfants.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

References

1
Ledoux TA, Hingle MD, and Baranowski T Relationship of fruit and vegetable intake with adiposity: a systematic review Obes Rev. 2011 12 e143 -50
2
Health Canada. Eating well with Canada's food guide for First Nations, Inuit and Métis; 2007 [cited 2013 Mar 04]. Available from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/pubs/fnim-pnim/index-eng.php.
3
Findlay LC, Langlois KA, and Kohen DE Hunger among Inuit children in Canada Int J Circumpolar Health. 2013 72 20324
4
Downs S, Arnold A, Marshall D, McCargar L, Raine K, and Willows N Associations among the food environment, diet quality and weight status in Cree children in Québec Public Health Nutr. 2009 12 9 1504 -11
5
Taylor JP, Timmons V, Larsen R, Walton F, Bryanton J, Critchley K, et al. Nutritional concerns in aboriginal children are similar to those in non-aboriginal children in Prince Edward Island, Canada J Am Diet Assoc. 2007 107 6 951 -5
6
Pigford AE, Sanou D, Ball GDC, Fehderau D, and Willows ND Abdominal adiposity and physical activity in Cree First Nations children living on-reserve in an Alberta community Can J Diabet. 2011 35 4 328 -33
7
Pigford AE, Willows ND. Promoting optimal weights in Aboriginal children in Canada through ecological research (Chapter 27). In: O'Dea JA and Eriksen M, editors. Childhood Obesity Prevention – International Research, Controversies and Interventions, pp. 309–20. Oxford University Press, London; 2010.
8
Willows N, Johnson M, and Ball G Prevalence estimates of overweight and obesity in Cree preschool children in northern Quebec according to international and US reference criteria Am J Public Health. 2007 97 2 311 -16
9
Lien N, Lytle LA, and Klepp KI Stability in consumption of fruit, vegetables, and sugary foods in a cohort from age 14 to age 21 Prev Med. 2001 33 3 217 -26
10
Kelder SH, Perry CL, Klepp KI, and Lytle LL Longitudinal tracking of adolescent smoking, physical activity, and food choice behaviors Am J Public Health. 1994 84 7 1121 -6
11
Heim S, Ireland M, and Stang J A garden pilot project enhances fruit and vegetable consumption among children J Am Diet Assoc. 2009 109 7 1220 -6
12
Burghardt J, Gordon A, Chapman N, Gleason P, Fraker T. The school nutrition dietary assessment study: school food service, meals offered, and dietary intakes. Final report. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. Princeton, NJ: Mathematica Policy Research; 1993.
13
Lautenschlager LL and Smith CC Understanding gardening and dietary habits among youth garden program participants using the Theory of Planned Behavior Appetite. 2007 49 1 122 -30
14
Hermann JR, Parker SP, Brown BJ, Siewe YK, Denney BA, and Walker SJ After-school gardening improves children's reported vegetable intake and physical activity J Nutr Educ Behav. 2006 38 3 201 -2
15
Morris JL, Neustadter A, and Zidenberg-Cherr S First-grade gardeners more likely to taste vegetables California Agriculture. 2001 55 1 43 -6
16
Cason KL Children are ‘growing healthy' in South Carolina J Nutr Educ. 1999 31 4 235
17
Morris JL and Zidenberg-Cherr S Garden-enhanced nutrition curriculum improves fourth-grade school children's knowledge of nutrition and preferences for some vegetables J Am Diet Assoc. 2002 102 1 91 -3
18
Lineberger SE and Zajicek JM School gardens: can a hands-on teaching tool affect students' attitudes and behaviors regarding fruit and vegetables? Horttechnology. 2000 10 3 593 -7
19
DyckFehderau DD, Holt NL, Ball GD, and Willows ND Feasibility study of asset mapping with children: identifying how the community environment shapes activity and food choices in Alexander First Nation Rural Remote Health. 2013 13 1 1
20
Statistic Canada. 2011 National Household Survey [cited 2013 Mar 04]. Available from http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E.
21
Pigford AE, Ball GD, Plotnikoff RC, Arcand E, Fehderau DD, Holt NL, et al. Community-based participatory research to address childhood obesity: experiences from alexander first nation in Canada Pimatisiwin. 2013 11 2 171 -85
22
EarthBox. [n.d.]. [cited 2013 Mar 04]. Available from http://earthbox.com/.
23
Triador L, Farmer A, Maximova K, Willows N, and Kootenay J A school gardening and healthy snack program increased Aboriginal First Nations children's preferences toward vegetables and fruit J Nutr Educ Behav. 2015 47 176 -80
24
Ma K. Veggies sprout nutrition study in Alexander U of A, province to study mini-gardens and kids' health. St. Alberta Gazette. [cited 2013 Mar 04]. Available from http://www.stalbertgazette.com/article/20101103/SAG0801/311039985/veggies-sprout-nutrition-study-in-alexander.
25
Alberta Project Promoting Active Living & healthy Eating. (APPLE Schools) [n.d.]. [cited 2013 Mar 04]. Available from http://www.appleschools.ca/.
26
Morris JL, Briggs M, and Zidenberg-Cherr S School-based gardens can teach kids healthier eating habits Calif Agric. 2000 54 5 40 -6
27
Resnicow K, Davis-Hearn M, Smith M, Baranowski T, Lin LS, Baranowski J, et al. Social-cognitive predictors of fruit and vegetable intake in children Health Psychol. 1997 16 3 272 -6
28
O'Brien SA and Shoemaker CA An after-school gardening club to promote fruit and vegetable consumption among fourth grade students: the assessment of social cognitive theory constructs Horttechnology. 2006 16 1 24 -9
29
Poston SA, Shoemaker CA, and Dzewaltowski DA A comparison of a gardening and nutrition program with a standard nutrition program in an out-of-school setting Horttechnology. 2005 15 3 463 -7
30
Hoffman J, Thompson D, Franko D, Power T, Leff S, and Stallings V Decaying behavioral effects in a randomized, multi-year fruit and vegetable intake intervention Prev Med. 2011 52 5 370 -5
31
Anzman-Frasca S, Savage JS, Marini ME, Fisher JO, and Birch LL Repeated exposure and associative conditioning promote preschool children's liking of vegetables Appetite. 2012 58 2 543 -53
32
Domel SB, Thompson WO, Davis HC, Baranowski T, Leonard SB, and Baranowski J Psychosocial predictors of fruit and vegetable consumption among elementary school children Health Educ Res. 1996 11 3 299 -308
33
Arcan C, Neumark-Sztainer D, Hannan P, van den Berg P, Story M, and Larson N Parental eating behaviours, home food environment and adolescent intakes of fruits, vegetables and dairy foods: longitudinal findings from Project EAT Public Health Nutr. 2007 10 11 1257 -65
34
Larson N and Story M A Review of environmental influences on food choices Ann Behav Med. 2009 38 1 3856 -73
35
Savage JS, Fisher JO, and Birch LL Parental influence on eating behavior: conception to adolescence J Law Med Ethics. 2007 35 1 22 -34
36
Willows ND, Veugelers P, Raine K, and Kuhle S Prevalence and sociodemographic risk factors related to household food security in Aboriginal peoples in Canada Public Health Nutr. 2009 12 8 1150 -6
37
Huet C, Rosol R, and Egeland GM The prevalence of food insecurity is high and the diet quality poor in Inuit communities J Nutr. 2012 142 3 541 -7
38
Egeland G, Pacey A, Cao Z, and Sobol I Food insecurity among Inuit preschoolers: Nunavut Inuit Child Health Survey, 2007–2008 CMAJ. 2010 182 3 243 -8
39
Parmer SM, Salisbury-Glennon J, Shannon D, and Struempler B School gardens: an experiential learning approach for a nutrition education program to increase fruit and vegetable knowledge, preference, and consumption among second-grade students J Nutr Educ Behav. 2009 41 3 212 -17
40
Willows ND, Hanley AJG, and Delormier T A socioecological framework to understand weight-related issues in Aboriginal children in Canada Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2012 37 1 1 -13

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

cover image Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Volume 76Number 3September 2015
Pages: 133 - 139

History

Version of record online: 21 May 2015

Authors

Affiliations

Mahitab A. Hanbazaza MSc
Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Lucila Triador MSc
Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Geoff D.C. Ball PhD, RD
Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Anna Farmer PhD, RD
Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Katerina Maximova PhD
School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Alexander First Nation
Noreen D. Willows PhD
Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Other Metrics

Citations

Cite As

Export Citations

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

Cited by

1. Alexander First Nations Parents’ Perceptions of a School Nutrition Policy
2. The Impact of Canadian School Food Programs on Children’s Nutrition and Health: A Systematic Review

View Options

Get Access

Login options

Check if you access through your login credentials or your institution to get full access on this article.

Subscribe

Click on the button below to subscribe to Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research

Purchase options

Purchase this article to get full access to it.

Restore your content access

Enter your email address to restore your content access:

Note: This functionality works only for purchases done as a guest. If you already have an account, log in to access the content to which you are entitled.

View options

PDF

View PDF

Full Text

View Full Text

Media

Media

Other

Tables

Share Options

Share

Share the article link

Share on social media