Childhood Health

From the Garden to the Table

In response to the large number of obese children in Georgia, Fulton County 4-H staff created a gardening project entitled From the Garden to the Table. This project was created to help children understand how to grow and prepare food that is good for them. A total of 27 senior 4-H'ers participated in the project. 4-H members had hands on learning experiences by learning to prepare fresh vegetables from a school garden. 4-H members assessed their diet for two days and identified the number of fresh vegetables that was incorporated in their diet. The students prepared a garden space by creating gardening beds with the assistance of a Master Gardener and other volunteers. The students created a garden that yielded cool season crops such as collard greens, turnip greens, and radishes. The students also planted warm season crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs. The 4-H agent, the Master Gardener, and the teacher involved also helped the students to prepare meals that utilized vegetables and herbs from their garden. A total of 84 percent of the members that were involved in the project were able to create a healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu plan using the My Pyramid as a guide. (2006)

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