The impact of a school garden and cooking program on boys' and girls' fruit and vegetable preferences, taste rating, and intake
Date
2012
Authors
Jaenke, R.L.
Collins, C.E.
Morgan, P.J.
Lubans, D.R.
Saunders, K.L.
Warren, J.M.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Health Education and Behavior, 2012; 39(2):131-141
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine gender differences in the impact of a school garden and nutrition curriculum on fruit and vegetable intake, willingness to taste, and taste ratings in 127 children (11 to 12 years, 54% boys) in regional New South Wales, Australia. Classes were assigned to wait-list control, nutrition education only (NE), or nutrition education plus garden(NE + G) groups. Carrot taste rating was the only vegetable for which there was a significant gender difference, with girls rating it more highly (p = .04). There were no significant gender differences in fruit and vegetable consumption or willingness to taste scores for any other vegetables. There was a group effect (p < .001) for overall willingness to taste, overall taste rating, and the taste rating of pea and broccoli (p < .001), tomato (p = .03), and lettuce (p = .02). In the post hoc analysis by gender, both boys and girls in NE + G and NE groups were more willing to taste vegetables compared with control boys and girls post intervention (p < .001, p = .02). Boys in the NE + G group were more willing to taste all vegetables overall compared with NE boys at posttest (p = .05) and this approached significance for girls (p = .07). For overall tasting scores,a group effect was seen in girls only (p = .05). No significant treatment-time effect was found for vegetable intake in either gender. Further research is needed to examine whether a school garden, with or without school curriculum components,can be used to optimize fruit and vegetable intakes, particularly in boys.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
Copyright 2012 Society for Public Health Education