Nourishing Healthy Habits

The “Crunch and Munch” program was implemented as an after-school program for children in grades four to six and as an in-school program for special-needs high school students in Sioux County and Fort Berthold. The 12 lessons included skill-building lessons (including food preparation and gardening) and fitness activities designed to improve consumption of fruits, vegetables, calcium-rich foods and whole grains, and to increase fitness among children and families. We reached 45 children and adolescents with multisession lessons, plus the materials reached their siblings, parents, grandparents and community members. Pre/post-surveys were used to assess changes in knowledge and self-reported behavior. Educational curricula, gardening tools and food preparation equipment were purchased with funding from General Mills Inc.

Impacts

On post-surveys, 53 percent of the children indicated they were eating more fruits and vegetables, 78 percent had tried at least one new food since attending the Crunch and Munch program, 63 percent had made at least one of the snacks at home, 72 percent indicated they had learned something new about gardening, 84 percent had practiced the kitchen safety rules at home and 72 percent had helped prepare healthy snacks or meals at home. After tracking their physical activity and video game/TV use, 75 percent of participants reported walking more for fitness and 81 percent indicated they spend two hours or less watching TV or playing video games. The children assisted with community gardens, and a soup kitchen was established at one site.

The progress of sustainable community change was captured in these online videos:

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/impactreports/reports/2011-impact-reports/11state-j.garden-robinson-nfsh.pdf