NC STATE
EXTENSION
NU**
NATURAL LEARNING INITIATIVE
Growing and Cooking Fruits and Vegetables
at Childcare Centers
Local Foods: Childcare Center Production Gardens
This publication summarizes the benefits of fruit and vegetable
gardening with children. It includes age-appropriate activities for
childcare providers to engage young children in using fresh produce
from a production garden for cooking and eating. This is the first of
eight publications about childcare center production gardens.
Early childhood educators have an
important opportunity to help create
positive environments that connect with
young children's senses, allowing them to
plant, grow, harvest, and ultimately prepare
healthy eating experiences. Children
develop healthy eating habits and food
preferences at an early age. The more
engaged children become with hands-on
food education, such as gardening and
food preparation, the more likely they will
prefer and routinely consume fruits and
vegetables. ’-2-3-4
Findings of the Natural Learning
Initiative (NU) Preventing Obesity by
Design (POD) program emphasize the
significance of gardening for engaging
teachers and children in on-site food
production.6 By incorporating a designated
production garden in the outdoor learning
environment, childcare centers can inspire
lifelong healthy eating habits and can
become models for the families they serve.
The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) recommend a diet
high in fruits and vegetables to lower
risk for numerous chronic illnesses,
including cancer and cardiovascular
disease.6 For most Americans two years
and older, specifically preschool age
children, vegetable intake falls below CDC
recommendations.7-8 Natural Learning
Initiative (NLI) Preventing Obesity by
Design (POD) childcare centers recognize
that a well-balanced eating plan containing
fruits and vegetables can help children
maintain a healthy weight.9These centers
have embraced and integrated growing,
harvesting, and cooking with children into
their daily curriculums.
GARDENING AND COOKING ABILITIES
OFYOUNG CHILDREN'0
Classroom activities based on experiences
with growing and cooking fruits and
vegetables can help young children learn
key developmental skills, including:
■ Science skills: classification,
weather, insects, soil, and plant life
cycles.
■ Math skills: counting, measuring,
and weighing.
■ Language skills: describing and
comparing color, taste, and texture.
■ Fine motor skills: mixing, spreading,
and chopping.
■ Cognitive skills: curiosity, cause-
and-effect, and problem-solving.
Why is exposure to growing and
cooking fruits and vegetables
important for young children?
Dietary Guidelines for Americans
recommend at least two servings
of both fruits and vegetables each
day.
Essential vitamins, minerals,
and fiber provided by fruits and
vegetables may help prevent
chronic diseases.
Growing, preparing, and eating
fruits and vegetables, from their
own gardening efforts, can help
children develop lifelong healthy
eating habits.
Participating in a full range of
gardening from seed to tummy
helps children understand the
origins of food.
Little fingers loosening roots before planting.
1
Growing and Cooking Fruits and Vegetables at Childcare Centers