Impact of School-based Kitchen Gardening and Nutrition Education on Children's Health and Dietary Habits

Over the past 25 years, extensive data on the dietary and nutritional status of rural populations across various Indian states have been collected, conducted by the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB) and the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), in Hyderabad. These surveys have covered 12 states. The findings reveal that the diets of these rural communities are generally poor and lack essential nutrients. Kitchen or home gardens significantly enhance food security for economically disadvantaged rural families in developing countries. FLD on the establishment of kitchen gardens at schools along with nutrition education is initiated in the Kasthurba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya school children, who are interested and have unutilized ground, were chosen for the backyard kitchen gardening intervention in the adopted schools. The primary objectives of the study are i) To assess the impact of the school nutrition garden on the micronutrient intake of children, ii) To combat micronutrient deficiency among children, iii) To increase the ability and interest in incorporating healthier foods. In the year 2019-2020, around 100s of Kitchen Garden kits were distributed among schools, in Mydukuru, Khajipeta and Duvvuru mandals of Dr. YSR District, under FLD programme of Dr. YSRHU KVK, Vonipenta. Data on their basic profile was collected, which included information regarding their nutritional assessment, and general information. Statistical analysis was done to calculate the mean values of pre and post-test nutrition education, interviewed consumption patterns, and observed clinical signs and symptoms of the sample and control group.

The study revealed that school kitchen gardening in KGBV, BC, and SC welfare girls’ high schools increased the interest in consuming vegetables when compared to the previous situation, and children enjoyed every day evenings in gardening activities like irrigation, weeding and harvesting. Awareness of deficiencies and symptoms through nutrition education. Organized pre and post-tests evaluation with questionnaire dev. Children observed a significant change in themselves on dysmenorrhea (Iron Deficiency Anaemia). In 10 schools, 8th and 9th class students were selected and volunteered students 1000 (each school, N=100) participated in the kitchen garden activities and nutrition education program. However, around 5000 children consumed the produce along with other vegetables from the market, which decreased expenditure on vegetables, increased the availability of varied vegetables and green leafy vegetables in the diet, and led to an increased consumption. After starting the kitchen gardening activity, the production and consumption of vegetables increased by 85% and 90%, and they were conscious about nutrition aspects. It is recommended that the implementation of school nutrition gardens be mandated for high schools, accompanied by the provision of a school garden kit. Furthermore, ensuring community support is essential for the successful integration and sustainability of these nutrition gardens in high schools.