title: Farm to School and Nutrition Education: Positively Affecting Elementary School-Aged Children's Nutrition Knowledge and Consumption Behavior.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Good nutrition is crucial. School-aged children battle social and health issues such as poor nutrition, childhood obesity, and minimal nutrition knowledge. This study was a quasi-experimental design analyzing the effects of the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) nutrition curriculum with a Farm to School program to assess nutrition knowledge of 3(rd) grade students, and to increase fruit and vegetable consumption behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  Third grade boys and girls (n=65) participated in this study. The intervention consisted of two nutrition education classes and a farm tour. Data were collected at baseline and postintervention. Surveys assessed nutrition knowledge, fruit and vegetable consumption behavior, and awareness of farms and farmers. Chi-squared tests of independence were performed to examine the relation between the baseline and postintervention responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were found concerning knowledge of fiber (p<0.001). Knowledge of vitamins and minerals, reported vegetable consumption behavior at school, and farm exposure were also significant (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that CATCH nutrition education and farm tours can positively affect school-aged children's nutrition knowledge and fruit and vegetable consumption behavior.
authors: Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA.
authors: Ashley
authors: A
authors: Moss
authors: Sylvia
authors: S
authors: Smith
authors: Dawn
authors: D
authors: Null
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Long Roth
authors: Ulrike
authors: U
authors: Tragoudas
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D002648:Child; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences / Q000193:education*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D016730:Program Development; D012424:Rural Population; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires