Fall 2006

We worked with 150 students in eight classes to increase awareness of foods. Students engaged in a dialog about their eating habits and the health consequences of a diet high in calories, fat, salt, and sugar. They learned to evaluate the nutritional make-up of meals at fast food restaurants and to decipher food labels, such as how much sugar is in favorite drinks. With this, they decided on the healthiest options at neighborhood restaurants, explored the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables and cutting down on junk food. Students were asked if they wanted to increase consumption of one healthy item or decrease consumption of one unhealthy item. After 12 weeks, 29 of 44 students (two-thirds) reported a positive change in diet:

• 11 of 23 students (48%) increased consumption of one healthy item (e.g. water, or fruits and vegetables)
• 18 of 21 students (86%) decreased consumption of one unhealthy item (e.g. soda, fast food, chips)

Students also investigated food safety issues such as fruits and vegetables doused with pesticides and contaminated fish, and talked about food miles --the energy used and pollution generated by shipping food thousands of miles. In-class discussions focused on alternatives to mainstream food distribution farmers markets, Community Supported Agriculture programs, and growing food in community gardens for themselves.

Throughout, students sampled locally grown foods such as apples, berries, purple carrots, cucumbers, and radishes. They made salads and tried organic peanut butter without added salt or sugar. To increase knowledge of healthy eating, students offered schoolmates, teachers and the community locally grown fruits and vegetables at events such as parent/teachers night and holiday parties. They also created flyers and posters to further educate peers, teachers and staff.

In the community garden, many students made first contact with growing. This past fall, they planted garlic for summer harvest as they prepared vegetable beds at two local community gardens (JDD Garden and Wishing Well Garden) for spring planting. Students engaged in weeding, amending soil, planting rye and wheat grass as cover crops, and starting a compost pile. Besides acquiring gardening skills, students learned firsthand about seasonality, poor soil and how to amend it, and invertebrate life in the South Bronx. To help make the connection from seed to table, they ordered seeds and planned for spring planting with an eye toward including vegetables with the highest nutritional content alongside their favorites.

Learn, It Grow It, Eat It Student Quotes, Fall 2006

"Now I am able to read food labels and understand what it all means. Also this class helped me to change some of my eating habits to more healthy habits."
Amanda, High School for Violin and Dance

"The information he taught I shared with my mother and she found it very interesting as well."
Melisa, High School for Violin and Dance

"I learned how to eat healthier and become more conscious about the environment with the classesthe most interesting classes are when he brought organically or locally grown fruits and peanut butter. The fruits tasted different from the fruits that I normally eat, and it was through those classes that I finally learned why."
Melcy, High School for Violin and Dance

"The garden lessons were the most interesting. It was my first time planting something."
Aaron, High School for Violin and Dance

"The sugar project was the most interesting and enjoyable for me because we did surveys, we prepared our presentation with posters and presented in front of our classmates. That was really good because you dont only learn but you also teachI learned that you can find greenmarkets around New York City and you can find the freshest food there."
Camila, Bronx International High School

"Its good that he brings in foods that we are not used to so we can try new things."
Octavia, Satellite Academy

"The most enjoyable was when we made healthy foods like salads and fruit salads."
Rodshena, Bronx Regional High School

"The most enjoyable was going to the garden and working with my classmates."
Nicole, Bronx Regional High School

Have these classes changed the way you think about food?

"Yes, because now I wash everything right and cut out rotten parts in fruits because they contain more pesticides."
Frances, High School for Violin and Dance

"Yes it has. I really look at food labels and think twice about eating McDonalds."
Kimberly, High School for Violin and Dance

"It has taught me that eating healthy could benefit me and the environment."
Gwendoline, High School for Violin and Dance

"I eat less fast food. Even if Im hungry I go home and make my own food."
Djeneba, Bronx International High School

"The classes changed the way I eat 100% because now, unbelievable, I am drinking water every single day. Because now I know that added sugar is bad for you it can lead to tooth decay, obesity and diabetes."
Camila, Bronx International High School

"I have not eaten McDonalds in about 6 months thanks to the health chart he gave us a while back."
Octavia, Satellite Academy

"Before this class I never read food labels."
Rodshena, Bronx Regional High School

"Yes, because it taught me to open my eyes and see what really happens or what things can happen to you when you eat certain foods."
Charlene, Bronx Regional High School