Fall After-School Garden Curriculum for Overweight and Obesity Prevention

According to current research, less than half of the children in the United States meet the recommendations for physical activity or fruit and vegetable consumption.  The number of overweight and obese children is at an all-time high in the United States.   Project PLANTS (Promoting Lifelong Activity and Nutrition Through Schools) is a two year research program testing the effects of after-school garden clubs on sedentary behavior, physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption of fourth and fifth grade students for overweight and obesity prevention.  The after-school garden club consists of a ten week fall curriculum and a twelve week spring curriculum. The development and implementation of the curriculum was based on the self-efficacy theory addressing the target behaviors of eating healthy, being physically active and reducing sedentary behavior.  Each lesson includes a healthy snack, physical activity and gardening.  This presentation explains the design and application of the fall after-school garden club curriculum.