Identifier

etd-11122009-105909

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Plant, Environmental Management and Soil Sciences

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Americans, especially low-income citizens, do not meet the daily USDA recommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption. Low fruit and vegetable intake can be associated with several types of chronic diseases. The dietary patterns established at a young age often carry into adulthood, hence the need for nutrition education beginning in youth. Studies have shown that nutrition education coupled with a gardening program can impact youth's nutrition choices and snack preferences. The Summer Experience was an eight-week garden-based nutrition education program designed to teach gardening, cooking, nutrition, business and life skills for inner-city high school students in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The study subjects were McKinley High School students (n=33), who reside in a primarily low-income, food desert in East Baton Rouge Parish. This study was to determine the impact of the Summer Experience on high school students' knowledge, attitudes, and preferences regarding fruits and vegetables. A three section questionnaire was used to measure students' nutrition knowledge, fruit and vegetable attitudes, and snack preferences. After participation in the program, students' snack preferences significantly improved (p< 0.025), however, there were no differences found in participants' nutrition knowledge (p< 0.187) or attitudes towards fruits and vegetables (p<0.283). The program results suggest that skill building in gardening and cooking may positively impact factors related to the fruit and vegetable intake of inner city high school students.

Date

2009

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Secure the entire work for patent and/or proprietary purposes for a period of one year. Student has submitted appropriate documentation which states: During this period the copyright owner also agrees not to exercise her/his ownership rights, including public use in works, without prior authorization from LSU. At the end of the one year period, either we or LSU may request an automatic extension for one additional year. At the end of the one year secure period (or its extension, if such is requested), the work will be released for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Motsenbocker, Carl

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.4243

Download

Share

COinS