Health & Nutrition in the Garden

Research continues to document the significant health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables, and yet most children do not eat the recommended daily amount. Growing fruits and vegetables in the school garden improves students’ attitudes toward these healthy foods and motivates reluctant eaters to try them. You can use the garden as a hands-on tool to teach nutrition lessons, including the importance of fruits and vegetables and proper food preparation techniques. Specific activity ideas:​

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• Compare the importance of nutrients in the health of humans and of plants.

• Study the nutritional value of the various crops in your garden.

• Identify the parts of the plant represented by common fruits and vegetables.

• Discuss the difference in nutritional value of various plant parts.

• Study adaptations of plant parts that make them good food sources.

• Sprout various seeds for eating.

• Conduct a blindfolded taste test using classroom-grown vegetables and

• supermarket vegetables.

• Experiment with food preservation techniques, such as drying, freezing, and

• canning.

• Grow a salad garden and give students a chance to sample the harvest

• with a salad party.

• Invite a grocery store employee to talk to the class about where their products come from.

• Visit a local farm.

• Create brochures with information on daily food intake recommendations.

• Plan a day’s menu that includes all components of a balanced diet.

• Keep food journals that highlight how many fruits and vegetables are eaten and describe any new produce tried.

• Invite chefs from the community to do cooking demonstrations for students and parents. Coordinate a cooking lesson in your school’s kitchen using the produce your class has grown.

• Ask cafeteria managers to share safe food handling information and provide tours of school kitchens.

• Research cultural holidays and the symbolism of particular fruits and vegetables that are included during those holidays. For example, identify the symbolism of tangerines in the Chinese New Year celebration.

• Create a public service announcement or school announcement promoting fruits and vegetables. The promotion could highlight something growing in the garden, a fruit or vegetable offered in the cafeteria, or both. This will encourage students to develop skills for marketing food choices.

• Grow and use fresh herbs to flavor your dishes with natural ingredients and decrease the use of salt in recipes.

• Research and compare fruits and vegetables with various origins. Identify cultural dishes and their preparation methods. Host an “international day”

• Visit a local farmers’ market or start a school farmers’ market.

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​Source: California School Garden Network: Gardens for Learning