Davis school program supports life-long healthy eating habits in children

Graham, H; Feenstra, G; Evans, A; Zidenberg-Cherr, S

Davis school program supports life-long healthy eating habits in children

Authors

Heather Graham
Gail Feenstra
Ann M. Evans
Sheri Zidenberg-Cherr

Authors Affiliations

H. Graham is Research Assistant, Department of Nutrition, UC Davis; G. Feenstra is Food Systems Analyst, UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program; A.M. Evans is Nutrition Education Consultant, California Department of Education, Nutrition Services Division, Sacramento; S. Zidenberg-Cherr is Cooperative Extension Nutrition Science Specialist, Department of Nutrition, UC Davis.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 58(4):200-205. DOI:10.3733/ca.v058n04p200. October 2004.

PDF of full article, Cite this article

Abstract

The school environment can positively affect students in areas beyond traditional academic achievement. An innovative program in Davis, the Farm to School Connection, sought to promote the development of life-long healthy eating habits in children and to create a school environment that made connections among the school garden, cafeteria and classroom, and linked them to local agriculture. This comprehensive program included farmers' market salad bars, classroom education, farm tours and waste management. We evaluated the effectiveness of the program via interviews and surveys of program leaders, teachers and school staff. Participation in the school lunch program increased with the addition of the salad bars, and numerous partnerships developed among those involved. Components of the Farm to School Connection provide evidence to support comprehensive school nutrition programs and the positive impact they can have on the school environment.

References

Briggs M, Safaii S, Lane Bea, ll D. Position of the American Dietetic Association, Society for Nutrition Education, and American School Food Service Association — Nutrition Services: An essential component of comprehensive school health programs. JADA. 2003. 103:505-14.

Brillinger R, Ohmart J, Feenstra G. The Crunch Lunch Manual: A case study of the Davis Joint Unified School District and a fiscal analysis model. UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. 2003. Davis, CA: www.sarep.ucdavis.edu (accessed 8/04).

[CDC] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guidelines for school health programs to promote lifelong healthy eating. MMWR 1996. 45RR-9

CDC. Physical activity and good nutrition: Essential elements to prevent chronic diseases and obesity. 2003. www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa (accessed 7/03).

[CDE] California Department of Education. Kids Cook Farm-Fresh Food: Seasonal Recipes, Activities and Farm Profiles that Teach Ecological Responsibility. Doc no 001547 2002. Sacramento, CA:

Epstein LH, Wing RR, Valoski A. Childhood obesity. Pediatr Clin North Am. 1985. 32(2):363-79. PubMed PMID: 3887305

Feenstra G, Ohmart J. Yolo County farm to school project evaluation, third year annual report. UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. 2003. 1-28.

Foerster SB, Fierro MP, Gregson J, et al. California teens eating and exercise survey. 2002. Public Health Institute, Berkeley, CA.: www.phi.org/library.html (accessed 8/04). p. 1–36

Graham H, Lane Bea, ll D, Lussier M, et al. Use of school gardens in California academic instruction. J Nutri Ed Behav. In press.

Lieberman GA, Hoody LL. Closing the achievement gap: Using the environment as an integrating context for learning. Executive Summary: State Education and Environmental Roundtable. 1998. San Diego, CA.: www.seer.org/pages/research.html (accessed 8/04)

Morris JL, Zidenberg-Cherr S. Garden-enhanced nutrition education curriculum improves fourth-grade school children's knowledge of nutrition and preferences for some vegetables. JADA. 2002. 102(1):91-3.

Ogden CL, Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Johnson CL. Prevalence and trends in overweight among U.S. children and adolescents, 1999-2000. JAMA. 2002. 288(14):1728-32. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.288.14.1728 PubMed PMID: 12365956

Rosenbaum AL, Joe JR, Winter WR. Emerging epidemic of type 2 diabetes in youth. Diabetes Care. 1999. 22(2):345-54. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.22.2.345

Schwimmer JB, Burwinkle TM, Varni JW. Health-related quality of life of severely obese children and adolescents. JAMA. 2003. 289(14):1813-9. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.289.14.1813 PubMed PMID: 12684360

Whitaker RC, Wright JA, Pepe MS, et al. Predicting obesity in young adulthood from childhood and parental obesity. N Engl J Med. 1997. 337:869-73. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199709253371301 PubMed PMID: 9302300

Also in this issue:

Dynamic modelling of a cross-flow rice dryer

ANR Looks to the Future

Letters: October-December 2004

California voters assess anti-GMO initiatives

Climate-change study predicts California water shortage

Nutritionists educate Vietnamese immigrants about breastfeeding

UC Berkeley's Beahrs program an oasis for war-weary global environmentalists

Racing for crabs… Costs and management options evaluated in Dungeness crab fishery

Race for Dungeness crab influences processing, markets

Conserving California fish … Extension approaches applied to contentious marine-fisheries management issues

Diet, shopping and food-safety skills of food stamp clients improve with nutrition education

Animal Ambassadors…4-H teens learn to lead science program for kids

Low-toxicity baits control ants in citrus orchards and grape vineyards

Weeds accurately mapped using DGPS and ground-based vision identification

Information for our contributors