Impact of a school-based food garden on attitudes and identification skills regarding vegetables and fruit: a 12-month intervention trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine changes in ability to identify specific vegetables and fruits, and attitudes towards vegetables and fruit, associated with the introduction of a school-based food garden.


METHODS
A 12-month intervention trial using a historical control (control n 132, intervention n 120), class-based, self-administered questionnaires requiring one-word answers and 3-point Likert scale responses.


METHODS
A state primary school (grades 4 to 7) in a low socio-economic area of Brisbane, Australia.


METHODS
The introduction of a school-based food garden, including the funding of a teacher coordinator for 11 h/week to facilitate integration of garden activities into the curriculum.


METHODS
Ability to identify a series of vegetables and fruits, attitudes towards vegetables and fruit.


METHODS
Frequency distributions for each item were generated and chi2 analyses were used to determine statistical significance. Exploratory factor analysis was employed to detect major trends in data.


RESULTS
The intervention led to enhanced ability to identify individual vegetables and fruits, greater attention to origins of produce (garden-grown and fresh), changes to perceived consumption of vegetables and fruits, and enhanced confidence in preparing fruit and vegetable snacks, but decreased interest in trying new fruits.


CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of this school-based food garden was associated with skill and attitudinal changes conducive to enhancing vegetable and fruit consumption. The ways in which such changes might impact on dietary behaviours and intake require further analysis.
Somerset
Shawn
S
School of Public Health and Heart Foundation Research Centre, Griffith University, University Drive, Meadowbrook, Queensland 4131, Australia. s.somerset@griffith.edu.au
Markwell
Katherine
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D001315:Australia; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences / Q000193:education*; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables