LA Sprouts : A 12-Week Gardening, Nutrition, and Cooking Randomized Control Trial Improves Determinants of Dietary Behaviors

• Published in: Journal of nutrition education and behavior 2016-01, Vol.48 (1), p.2-11.e1
• Main Authors: Davis, Jaimie N., PhD, Martinez, Lauren C., MPH, Spruijt-Metz, Donna, PhD, Gatto, Nicole M., PhD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Child; Child Nutrition Sciences - education; Clinical trials; Control Groups; Cooking; Diet; dietary intake; Feeding Behavior - psychology; Female; Fruits; Gardening - education; gardening and nutrition intervention; Gardens & gardening; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Grade 5; Health behavior; Health Education - methods; Health Promotion - methods; Hispanic Americans - psychology; Hispanic Americans - statistics & numerical data; Hispanic/Latino children; Humans; Internal Medicine; Los Angeles; Male; Motivation; Nutrition education; Randomized Controlled Trials; Students; Vegetables
• ISSN: 1499-4046; 1878-2620; 1708-8259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2015.08.009

Abstract Objective To evaluate the effect of an exploratory 12-week nutrition, cooking, and gardening trial ( LA Sprouts ) on preference for fruit and vegetables (FV); willingness to try FV; identification of FV; self-efficacy to garden, eat, and cook FV; motivation to garden, eat, and cook FV; attitudes toward FV; nutrition and gardening knowledge; and home gardening habits. Design Randomized controlled trial. Setting Four elementary schools. Participants Three hundred four predominately Hispanic/Latino third- through fifth-grade students were randomized to either the LA Sprouts group (n = 167 students) or control group (n = 137 students). Intervention Twelve-week after-school nutrition, cooking, and gardening intervention. Main Outcome Measures Determinants of dietary behavior as measured by questionnaire at baseline and postintervention. Analysis Analyses of covariance. Results After the 12-week program, compared with controls, LA Sprouts participants improved scores for identification of vegetables (+11% vs +5%; P = .001) and nutrition and gardening knowledge (+14.5% vs −5.0%; P = .003), and were more likely to garden at home (+7.5% vs –4.4%; P = .003). Conclusions The LA Sprouts program positively affected a number of determinants of dietary behaviors that suggest possible mechanisms by which gardening and nutrition education act to improve dietary intake and health outcomes.