Introduction to the Curriculum
Growing Healthy Habits (GHH) is a curriculum that provides nutrition education through gardening. Lessons use gardening as a tool to teach about nutrition, encourage students to consume more fruits and vegetables, and increase physical activity. There are nine units. Each unit contains introductory materials, four lessons and associated handouts. One lesson in each unit includes a healthy recipe demonstration, making use of garden produce when available.
The curriculum addresses the following key behavioral outcomes:
- Make half your plate fruits and vegetables, make your grains whole grains, and switch to fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products.
- Increase physical activity and reduce time spent in sedentary behaviors as part of a healthy lifestyle.
- Maintain appropriate calorie balance during each stage of life – childhood, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and older age.