The Impact of an After-School Garden Enhanced Education (GENE) on Skin Carotenoids as a Measure of Vegetable Consumption on Diverse, Low-Income Children

Abstract

ObjectivesSchool gardens can have a positive impact on children’s preference and intake of vegetables using a multi-component gardening curriculum. Reflection spectroscopy (RS) is a noninvasive method of measuring skin carotenoid levels which correlates with fruit and vegetable intake. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston (BGCGH) provide after-school and summer programs for diverse, low-income youth. The purpose of this study was to determine if a new nutrition garden program increased skin carotenoid scores of BGCGH children as a measure of vegetable consumption. MethodsChildren age 6–13 years participated in a ten-week Garden Enhanced Nutrition Education (GENE) Program adapted from the Texas AgriLife program “Learn, Grow, Eat and Go!”. The GENE curriculum was delivered by a Texas Woman’s University (TWU) graduate student. During the fall of 2021, children at two after-school BGCGH clubs participated in the GENE study. The program consisted of hands-on gardening, nutrition instruction, and sampling of vegetables. Measurement of skin carotenoid scores using the Veggie Meter ® served as a marker of vegetable consumption. Skin melanin index was measured utilizing a Konica Minolta 600D spectrophotometer. Outcomes included changes in body height and weight. Wilcoxon signed rank tests compared pre and post GENE Program intervention. ResultsA total of 30 club members participated in the study. Children self-identified themselves as either Black (54%), Hispanic or Latino (24%), White (20%), or Multiracial (2%). Sex was distributed as 76% female and 24% male. Body mass index averaged 23.2 ± 5.6 at baseline. Height and weight of children increased significantly over the ten-week study. Individual skin carotenoid scores of several children in the treatment group (43%) increased. Group skin carotenoids score averages followed an upward trend (174 ± 55 pre to 192 ± 67 post), but changes were not significant. Melanin index was not correlated with skin carotenoid scores. A total of 49.7 pounds of produce were harvested at the BGCGH clubs over the ten-week study. ConclusionsSkin carotenoid scores of ethnically diverse, low-income children increased when children participated in a ten-week garden nutrition program, though statistical significance was not shown. Funding SourcesMoore-Khourie Grant.