The Impact of School Gardening on Cree Children's Knowledge and Attitudes toward Vegetables and Fruit.
OBJECTIVE
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.
a Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
Mahitab A
MA
Hanbazaza
a Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
Lucila
L
Triador
b Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
Geoff D C
GD
Ball
a Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.|c School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
Anna
A
Farmer
c School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
Katerina
K
Maximova
d Morinville, AB.
Alexander First Nation
a Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
Noreen D
ND
Willows
D000416:Alberta; D002648:Child; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D005638:Fruit / Q000254:growth & development*; D051639:Gardening / Q000193:education*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services; D012574:Schools; D062410:Snacks; D014675:Vegetables / Q000254:growth & development*