Program objectives
• Increase consumption of fruits and
vegetables
Children will taste fruits and vegetables
grown in the gardens and be introduced to
others they may have never tasted.
• Improve nutritional habits
Chef demonstrations of easy preparations of
fresh local produce are a great addition to the
program. It encourages the youth to try fruits
and vegetables prepared in new ways.
Children will taste a variety of vegetables
and fruits; explore MyPlate, along with
important nutrients and habits for healthy
eating; and be introduced to basic food
safety and food handling practices.
• Improve understanding of plant science
Through classroom lessons and activities,
children will learn basic plant science
concepts.
• Develop indoor and outdoor gardening
skills
Children will propagate plants indoors using a
greenhouse, grow lights and sunny
windowsills. They will also plant and maintain
outdoor vegetable gardens through harvest.
GARDEN
A nutrition and gardening
program
Lessons on:
• Nutrition
• Food Safety
• Plant Science
• Hands-on
gardening
• Environmental
awareness
• Increase environmental awareness
Children will experience how gardens and
people fit into the natural environment. They
will learn to compost, identify garden insects
and diseases and observe seasonal changes.
Children will taste fruits and vegetables
grown in the gardens and be introduced to
others they may have never tasted.
an equal opportunity/ADA institution
Eating from the Garden is designed to be used
in group settings like a school classroom, an
after-school program or a community center
program. It includes a variety of fun nutrition
and gardening activities.
Each lesson contains learning objectives, core
activities and supplies needed. Additional
activities are included if you have more time to
teach nutrition or gardening in your setting.
Each lesson includes a newsletter for students to
take home. Lessons have been cross-referenced
with the Missouri Grade Level Expectations.
Eating from the Garden is designed to be
taught biweekly in the spring and fall, and
monthly during the winter months. The lessons
are based on a one-hour class with additional
activities for longer time periods. Weekly
alternating nutrition and gardening lessons
will allow for more time for fruit and vegetable
preparations and additional activities in the
garden.
The Eating from the
Garden curriculum is
unique because:
Eating from the Garden
provides research-based
information through nutrition
and gardening activities to
increase consumption of
fruits and vegetables, and
promote healthier food choices,
gardening knowledge and
physical activity.
• It combines nutrition
and gardening in
lessons that
incorporate outdoor
garden produce that
kids grow and
maintain
themselves.
• It’s inexpensive after start-up costs.
• It’s an excellent curriculum to supplement
educational component in youth gardening
(e.g., community gardens, school and
community centers, home school gardens).
• It’s a fun way to teach kids to eat better and
learn about growing food.
For more information about Eating from the
Garden, go online to
missourifamilies.org/eatfromgarden/ or contact:
• Students get handson learning about plant
science and nutrition that involves growing
and maintaining gardens.
• Students harvest produce and learn healthy
recipes to incorporate into their diet.
• Teachers can easily incorporate Eating from
the Garden curriculum into their classroom
schedules because of the flexible format.
Eating From the Garden is available online at:
extension.missouri.edu/p/N755