“They Find Ways to Make the Vegetables Taste Nicer” – Increased Fruit and Vegetable Consumption with the Garden to Table Programme in Four New Zealand Schools

Aim: This project aims to evaluate the Garden to Table programme in low decile Wellington schools. Methods: In a non-randomized evaluation over three years, schools that enrolled in Garden to Table in Wellington, New Zealand, were invited to participate. Eligible students attended two measurement days per year, for anthropometric measurements and a focus group. Dietary questionnaires were completed by a guardian. Results: Four schools and 124 children participated in the evaluation. Fruit and vegetable consumption significantly increased with exposure to the program. After at least one year children were able to name more vegetables and had tried more vegetables than at baseline. Children were more willing to try new foods, but this did not reach significance. BMI was not affected. Conclusion: The Garden to Table programme is well received by children and schools. The programme increased children’s knowledge about and exposure to different vegetables and increased fruit and vegetable consumption.