title: Expanding children's food experiences: the impact of a school-based kitchen garden program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate achievement of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program in increasing child appreciation of diverse, healthy foods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparative 2-year study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six program and 6 comparison primary schools in rural and metropolitan Victoria, Australia, matched for socioeconomic status and size.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 764 children in grades 3 to 6 (8-12 years of age) and 562 parents recruited. Retention rates at follow-up included 85% children and 75% parents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each week of the school year, children spent 45 to 60 minutes in a garden class and 90 minutes in a kitchen class.
  
  
  METHODS
  Program impact on children's willingness to try new foods, capacity to describe foods, and healthy eating.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative data analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Quantitative data analyzed using random-effects linear regressions adjusted for school clustering.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Child and parent qualitative and quantitative measures (if never tried before, odds ratio 2.0; confidence interval, 1.06-3.58) showed increases in children's reported willingness to try new foods. No differences in articulation of food descriptions (program vs comparison groups). Qualitative evidence showed that the program extended its influence to healthy eating, but this was not reflected in the quantitative evidence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings indicate program success in achieving its primary objective, meriting further program research.
authors.affiliation: Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, The McCaughey VicHealth Centre for Community Wellbeing, University of Melbourne, Australia. lgibbs@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.forename: Petra K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Staiger
authors.forename: Britt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Block
authors.forename: Susie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Macfarlane
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kulas
authors.forename: Mardie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Townsend
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Obioha
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ukoumunne
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences / Q000193:education*; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D003296:Cooking; D005260:Female; D051639:Gardening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014739:Victoria