Positively influencing health outcomes for generations to come
Here at Garden to Table, we’ve been reflecting on how our food education programme combats today’s pressing health challenges, and positively influences children’s health outcomes.
Over recent years, we’ve been seeing a nationwide increase in the incidence of childhood diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease. Obesity is a precursor to each of these conditions, and Aotearoa New Zealand is currently ranked the 2nd highest in the OECD for childhood obesity*.
We believe that schools are a logical setting for building food literacy and generating behavioural change to address these challenges. By empowering tamariki as changemakers, we can encourage positive steps that will last for generations to come.
*Sources: United Nations State of the World Report Card 2019 / United Nations Environment Programme, Food Index Report 2021
But, what does this mean? And what does it look like in action?
Over recent decades, knowledge and skills in the kitchen and garden have been lost. This has created a reliance on processed foods - which has negatively impacted our collective health. But, at Garden to Table, we want to inspire children to think about food differently.
During Garden to Table sessions, we equip tamariki with the skills, tools, resources, and inspiration they need to grow, harvest, prepare, and share good food.
By increasing children’s access to this fresh, nourishing, seasonal kai (and instilling a love for it), we're able to disrupt the increasing occurrence of obesity and diet-related health challenges.
In fact, research shows that children in the Garden to Table programme increased their consumption of fruit and vegetables, were able to name vegetables they could not previously, and were more willing to try new foods.
Nationwide, just 57% of children eat 3 or more servings of vegetables today. But, our surveys show that, amongst Garden to Table students, 85% are consuming 3 or more servings.
Best of all, these benefits radiate far beyond the school gates - with the student's enthusiasm for seasonal produce often influencing the home food environment, and boosting health outcomes within whānau and the community.
*Source: Centre for Endocrine Diabetes and Obesity Research (CEDOR) at Capital and Coast DHB (2019).
But, health is so much more than nutritious food.
At Garden to Table, we recognise and honour the holistic nature of health - and ensuring that tamariki are able to nurture and nourish all components of their hauora (health and wellbeing), is central to our programme.
In the garden, as children learn how to nurture soil, make compost, and sow seeds. They also learn how to nurture Papatūānuku - who sustains all life, and come to understand the interdependent nature of Earth’s health, with individual and community health.
Plus, spending time being physically active in the garden, helps tamariki gain access to the therapeutic and sensory benefits of green spaces.
In the kitchen, students work together to produce healthy kai. As they sit down to share this kai and kōrero about their experiences, social connections and relationships are enriched - and this supports their hauora hinengaro (mental health).
Every step of the way, volunteers from the community are there to support student’s with their learning - which enhances social cohesion, generates community pride, and builds intergenerational connections for positive mental health.
At Garden to Table, we live in the solutions world, and we love knowing that we’re supporting healthy outcomes for tamariki now, and in the future.
You too can contribute to healthier outcomes for our nation’s young people, with a gift to Garden to Table. Your donation will spread positive impacts further around the motu to more Kiwi kids.