A School Nutrition Program Improves Vegetable and Fruit Knowledge, Preferences, and Exposure in First Nation Youth

Abstract

Addressing the high prevalence of overweight and obesity is a priority for Aboriginal youth. This study evaluated the implementation of a comprehensive school-wide vegetable and fruit program for grade six to eight First Nation students in Fort Albany, Ontario. The impact on nutrition knowledge and self-efficacy, and intentions to eat more vegetables and fruit was evaluated using the Knowledge, Self-efficacy, and Intentions questionnaire, adapted from the ProChildren Questionnaire. Evaluation also included focus groups with teachers and questionnaires for parents/guardians and students to assess satisfaction. In this sample of students, the program improved knowledge, exposure to, and preferences for vegetables and fruit, but did not impact intentions or self-efficacy. Thus, school nutrition programs may be popular and effective in shifting knowledge and preferences to consume healthy foods; however, no sustained benefit can be achieved without addressing barriers to access to affordable, healthy foods in remote communities.

Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change: Producing Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) and Bush Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) for Improved Food Security and Resilience in a Canadian Subarctic First Nations Community

“…Over the last 25 years, obesity rates in Aboriginal communities rose more than 50% compared to the rest of Canada [5]. At present, obesity rates in Aboriginal children and adolescents are increasing which will ultimately lead to increased incidences of diet-related illnesses, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease [6][7][8][9].…”

The Potential Use of Agroforestry Community Gardens as a Sustainable Import-Substitution Strategy for Enhancing Food Security in Subarctic Ontario, Canada

“…The Mission was somewhat successful in producing diverse foods within a challenging environment and short growing season, but their departure and subsequent closing of residential schools in the late 20th century ended local agricultural production and left remote First Nations dependent on an unreliable, import-based food system [2]. Modern food systems in these remote First Nations often lack nutritional quality [3][4][5][6], bear high transportation costs, and perpetuate the loss of traditional Aboriginal food systems and associated knowledge [7], ultimately impacting individual and community health [8]. This import-based system is also extremely resource-intensive, while it simultaneously perpetuates reliance on the unstable fossil-fuel industry and global food economy [9,10].…”

“…For good plant growth, BD should be below 1.4 g/cm 3 for clays and 1.6 g/cm 3 for sands [37]. The entire range of BD values for each site were below these limits (Table 3).…”

“…A low BD is common in fine-textured soils like silt loams, especially those with higher organic matter, because pores exist both between and within the granules [47]. While cultivated loam soils tend to have an average BD of about 1.1 g/cm 3 to 1.4 g/cm 3 , greenhouse potting mixtures support plant growth with BDs as low as 0.1 g/cm 3 to 0.4 g/cm 3 [37]. The range of BD values for all sites within the proposed garden area falls between that of loose potting mixtures and cultivated loams; the proposed garden area has suitable levels of BD for crop cultivation.…”

A systematic review of the effectiveness of school‐based obesity prevention programmes for First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth in Canada

“…A total of 15 studies met our eligibility criteria , representing seven distinct school‐based interventions intended for FNIM youth in Canada (Table ). Figure shows the study flow diagram.…”