Learning about healthy foods

increasing children's healthy eating choices and
access to fresh  fruits and vegetables  

Learning Gardens

A longtime highlight of our Children and Family Services, our Learning Gardens program is growing in exciting ways to increase children’s healthy eating choices and access to fresh  fruits and vegetables  among the families  we serve.

Research shows that  involving children in a school gardening program may do more than cultivate a green thumb.  In one study, elementary school children showed increased willingness to try new foods after growing and cooking in a school-based kitchen and gardening program.

We utilize a curriculum called Garden of Eatin’ to teach children about food, nutrition, cooking, gardening, agriculture, nature, and related topics. Children enrolled in our Children and Family Services programs also learn about healthy eating by the example of their caregivers, who model healthy habits, manners, and good choices in the classroom.

Children enjoy visiting the Learning Gardens classroom. Once a week they go outside to do gardening, planting, weeding, clearing, digging, and pruning. The teacher, Juanita, takes out books, magnifiers, and different types of fruits, vegetables and herbs to be observed, smelled, touched, and tasted!

Iris Marin-Lima
Site Manager
Old Gallinas Childcare Center