No abstract

This study: (a) measured the effect of a nutrition and gardening education program on Appalachian children's fruit and vegetable intakes and preferences; and (b) examined the relationship of food security status to gardening habits and perceptions, produce intake, and personal characteristics of children and their adult female caregivers.In this study, participants were: (a) 91 children who completed a pre-test, nutrition education and gardening program (intervention), and a post-test over a six-week period;

Gardening has been associated with food security among households (HH) with preschool children. This cross‐sectional survey assessed the food security status (FSS), gardening behaviors, and produce intake/behaviors of adult females with school age children in Appalachian Ohio. Participants (n=99) were 34.7±7.2 years and living in HH with 3.8±1.2 members with the majority being white (83.7%) and married (45.9%). HH were classified as fully food secure (n=36, 36.4%), marginally food secure (n=14, 14.1%), low food security (n=24, 24.2%), or very low food security (n=25, 25.3%). 37 (38.1%) participants gardened vegetables, while 23 (24.0%) gardened fruit. FSS did not differ between those who gardened vegetables versus those who did not (p=.482) or between those who gardened fruit versus those who did not (p=.812). FSS was not associated with readiness to garden vegetables (p=.797) or fruit (p=.365). Food insecurity was associated with decreased readiness to eat vegetables (tau b=‐.172, p=.044) and decreased daily intake of vegetables (tau b=‐.224, p=.010). These data support that food insecurity is associated with both decreased vegetable intake and readiness to eat vegetables but not with gardening behaviors. This study supports the need for nutrition and dietetics professionals to promote produce intake and gardening through education programs targeted at improving FSS. Funding: OH Diet Assoc; Am Cancer Soc