School gardens as a pedagogical strategy for promoting adequate and healthy eating at school

Abstract

School gardens have a potential to work with themes related to health, food and environment, although few studies address pedagogical possibilities and consequences for health and nutrition. The objective of this study was to understand the development of gardens as a pedagogical strategy to promote adequate and healthy eating at school. This is a qualitative research, based on philosophical hermeneutics, developed in three schools. In-depth interviews were conducted with teachers, employees and principals. The results present questions and challenges related to technical aspects of garden construction, to the involvement of the school community and to the insertion of the garden in the school curriculum framework. The interviewees also linked their experiences in the garden to pedagogical aspects of eating, like planting and consuming food crops, by developing activities that integrated the garden to the school subjects. School gardens can be an important strategy for food and nutrition education.

Keywords: Gardening; School; Food and Nutrition Education; School Health.