School Gardens as a Nutrition Education Tool Because children spend much of their time in the school setting, schools have the opportunity to play a large role in the adoption of healthy living habits. There are many ways teachers can present nutrition education, but gardening provides a fun, interactive way to teach and learn these habits. Benefits of using gardens to teach nutrition include: Gardens provide a site for hands-on learning and to practice using the scientific method. Children are excited about eating fruits and vegetables that they grew themselves. Students will obtain a greater appreciation for how their food is grown. (Carrots do not magically appear on grocery store shelves.) Gardens can be used to teach food safety through proper harvest, processing and storage. Children may have the opportunity to practice preparing nutritious foods and to try new foods to expand their diets. Gardening is a skill children can use for the rest of their lives that promotes better health and wellness. Nutrition education through school gardens increases children's knowledge about fruits and vegetables, which may improve their attitudes towards these foods and lead to better eating habits. Gardens can teach children how to obtain fruits and vegetables and give them a greater appreciation for food processes by observing growth, maintaining the plants and participating in harvest.

Nutrition in the Garden* Back to School Gardens