Garden-Enhanced Nutrition Education (GENE) Workshop

1. Garden-Enhanced Nutrition Education (GENE) Workshop A training developed as part of the California School Garden Training Program www.lifelab.org/csgt Funded by a California Department of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant

2. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS,1990, 2000, 2010 (*BMI 30, or about 30 lbs. overweight for 5’4” person) 2000 1990 2010 No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30% www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html

4. We have the potential to help change this trend! A healthy diet, together with sufficient physical activity, can contribute to life-long physical, mental, and psychological wellbeing.

5. Garden-Enhanced Nutrition Education (GENE) GENE

6. Gardening and food preparation provide a fun, engaging, hands-on way to learn about nutritious food. By Teaching GENE Lessons We Strive To: Get students outdoors and active. Teach children basic nutrition concepts, such as the value of eating a variety of colors or balancing the food groups. Teach children what fruits and vegetables do for their bodies. • Provide students with positive experiences with fresh fruits and vegetables. Teach students an appreciation of food and how it gets from farm to fork. • Connect to multiple academic subject areas.

7. Students who plant and harvest their own fruits and veggies are more likely to eat them. Three schools in Vacaville, CA Nutrition education + gardening (GENE) Nutrition education only (N) Control group (regular instruction) GENE group = significant improvements in 4th grade students’ Nutrition knowledge Preferences for certain vegetables--both grown in the garden and from the supermarket Research supports Garden-Enhanced Nutrition Education Morris, Zidenberg-Cherr UC Davis 2002

8. Also ~ • Increased consumption at home • Willingness to eat vegetables as a snack and ask a family member to buy certain vegetables • Follow-up showed that results were retained 6 months later

9. Specific Study on Increases in ConsumptionIdaho—6th GradersMcAleese & Rankin,American Dietetic Association 2007 For GENE school • The number of servings of fruits and vegetables combined more than doubled from 1.93 to 4.5 servings per day. • Significantly increased Vitamin C, A and Fiber consumption • Non GENE Schools - No significant increase in fruit/veg, Vitamin C, A or Fiber intake.

10. GENE in Action GENE

11. MyPlate, My Garden

12. www.lifelab.org/garden-pathways/

13. Where is GENE Happening? www.lifelab.org/birthday.php

14. Where are you from &What do you do? www.lifelab.org/birthday.php

15. Workshop Goals • Recognize how garden-enhanced nutrition education promotes the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables and healthy lifestyles. • Understand how to use an edible garden to engage young people in hands-on nutrition education activities. • Learn tools and strategies for involving children and youth in safe food handling and preparation in a garden, kitchen, or classroom.

16. Workshop Goals • Learn how to plan for an edible harvest. • Become familiar with resources related to garden-enhanced nutrition education. • Network with others involved in garden-enhanced nutrition education around relevant topics, such as funding, policy, and best practices.

17. Find GENE content at www.csgn.org/gene www.lifelab.org/birthday.php