Healthy Minds and Healthy Bodies!
Everyone has a role in helping to create and support healthy eating patterns in multiple settings nationwide. Over 30% of children are overweight or obese, and those numbers have persisted for more than two decades (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2015).
We help our young children learn how to make healthy choices among foods, beverages, and physical activity as part of their daily lives. This lays the groundwork for a lifetime of healthful eating (Nemours, 2012).
We work with our families to promote healthy habits for life. Teachers model our wellness policy by consuming the same foods as children. Teachers lead and participate in active play in both indoor and outdoor settings. Both centers participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and meals are served family style. Read more about family-style meals in Schronda Burns’ update. Classrooms participate in Walk Across Texas, and the center incorporates elements of the Early Childhood Learn, Grow, Eat, and Go curriculum.
Keep reading to learn more about Learn, Grow, Eat and Go! Curriculum.
In March 2022, the Aggies and 12th Man classrooms helped pilot the early childhood version of the Junior Master Gardener program’s “Learn, Grow, Eat, & Go!” curriculum. The Early Childhood LGEG curriculum is an engaging way to introduce children to healthy habits while fostering an interest in gardening and the environment.
LGEG is a 4-week multifaceted unit that combines plant and gardening learning, music, recipes, brain- and body-boosting activities, books, as well as parent engagement resources.
Learn: Children will learn about plants, why they are important, what they need, and how they provide for our needs.
Grow: Children will prepare their gardens, grow and care for plants, and harvest.
Eat: Children will have fresh food samples to try as well as recipes to try out in the classroom.
Go: Physical mind- and body-boosting activities.
The History of LGEG
LGEG was part of a larger, research-driven initiative aimed at combating childhood obesity through a combination of gardening, nutrition, and physical activity. The study was conducted in Title 1 schools and used the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) model, enhanced by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service programs, including Walk Across Texas and Junior Master Gardener.
The research focused on improving both physical activity and healthy eating behaviors, which are key components for maintaining a healthy weight in children. The intervention was multifaceted, targeting not only the children but also the home environment, which involved active participation from teachers, Extension agents, and volunteers. By tracking various behavioral and psychosocial variables (such as diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and knowledge), the study was able to assess the effectiveness of the program in reducing obesity and improving children’s health habits.
This kind of program blends education, community involvement, and behavioral science to address childhood obesity in a holistic way. It’s a great example of how local, evidence-based interventions can help create long-term positive health outcomes in children (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, n.d.).
References
Nemours. (2012). Nemours Child Care Wellness Policy Workbook: Creating an environment for preschoolers to develop healthy habits for life. Nemours.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. (n.d.). Learn, Grow, Eat & Go! Early Childhood curriculum. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2015). 2015-2020 Dietary guidelines for Americans (8th ed.). https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/
