Growing Vegetables May Encourage More Consumption of Vegetables

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If you had grown vegetables as a kid, you might be more likely to eat your greens, reports a new study.

The study put on by researchers from the University of Florida interviewed over 1,300 students and found that 30% of those who gardened as a child ate 2.9 cups of fruits and vegetables a day versus those who only may have watched parents garden, eating 2.4 cups of fruits and vegetables per day.

“Hands on experience seems to matter,” Anne Mathews, UF/IFAS assistant professor told Newswise.

Other studies show that Latino kids are more likely to be advertised unhealthy foods and have access to unhealthy fast food and tobacco outlets within walking distance of their schools.

Farm-to-school, school gardens, and agriculture or STEM farming in schools may help increase more gardening opportunities for Latino students, who may, in turn, learn how to garden, grow their own food, and possibly consume more fruits and vegetables.

Gardening has also been shown to be good for students mental health and give access to moderate or light physical activity.

Schools can easily integrate gardening, even indoors to help benefit students, staff and the health of all. To learn more about the importance of healthier foods for the health of Latinos, click here.

To read on about how one backyard garden helped start a whole community to garden, click here!