TY - JOUR
T1 - Beliefs, knowledge, and values held by inner-city youth about gardening, nutrition, and cooking
AU - Lautenschlager, Lauren
AU - Smith, Chery
PY - 2007/6
Y1 - 2007/6
N2 - Changes in the US food system and an interest in changing dietary habits among youth have impelled numerous schools and communities to develop programs such as community gardens. Youth community gardens have the potential to positively influence dietary behaviors and enhance environmental awareness and appreciation. However, actual data supporting youth gardening and its influence are limited. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of community gardens on youth dietary behaviors, values and beliefs, and cooking and gardening behaviors. Focus groups were conducted with inner-city youth living in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota and compared those involved in a youth garden program with those uninvolved in order to investigate whether the gardening program influenced their habits, beliefs, and values. Findings indicate that youth garden program participants were more willing to eat nutritious food and try ethnic and unfamiliar food than those not in the program. Additionally, it was apparent that garden participants had a stronger appreciation for other individuals and cultures and were more likely to cook and garden on their own than youth not involved in a garden program. The findings suggest that garden programs positively impact youth garden habits, food choice, social skills, nutrition knowledge, and cooking skills.
AB - Changes in the US food system and an interest in changing dietary habits among youth have impelled numerous schools and communities to develop programs such as community gardens. Youth community gardens have the potential to positively influence dietary behaviors and enhance environmental awareness and appreciation. However, actual data supporting youth gardening and its influence are limited. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of community gardens on youth dietary behaviors, values and beliefs, and cooking and gardening behaviors. Focus groups were conducted with inner-city youth living in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota and compared those involved in a youth garden program with those uninvolved in order to investigate whether the gardening program influenced their habits, beliefs, and values. Findings indicate that youth garden program participants were more willing to eat nutritious food and try ethnic and unfamiliar food than those not in the program. Additionally, it was apparent that garden participants had a stronger appreciation for other individuals and cultures and were more likely to cook and garden on their own than youth not involved in a garden program. The findings suggest that garden programs positively impact youth garden habits, food choice, social skills, nutrition knowledge, and cooking skills.
KW - Community gardens
KW - Dietary habits
KW - Environmental awareness
KW - Inner-city youth
KW - Minnesota
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34247601174&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34247601174&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10460-006-9051-z
DO - 10.1007/s10460-006-9051-z
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:34247601174
SN - 0889-048X
VL - 24
SP - 245
EP - 258
JO - Agriculture and Human Values
JF - Agriculture and Human Values
IS - 2
ER -