Team Davis: A Pilot Study Using a Garden‐Enhanced Nutrition Education Curriculum for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

Individuals with developmental disabilities have a higher incidence of overweight and obesity. It is important to promote the development and evaluation of evidence‐based nutrition programs that adequately meet this population's needs. The Team Davis Pilot Study evaluated the effectiveness of garden‐enhanced nutrition education at improving nutrition knowledge and dietary behaviors among developmentally disabled individuals. The garden‐enhanced nutrition education curriculum was adapted from an existing curriculum, Nutrition to Grow On . Participants included 20 members of Team Davis , a non‐profit organization in Davis, California. These participants attended 9 nutrition education lessons taught in concert with hands‐on garden activities. Quantitative data were obtained using 3‐day food records and nutrition knowledge surveys, administered pre‐ and post‐ intervention. Qualitative data on program perception was also obtained. Out of 20 participants, 13 completed the intervention. Results indicate that 46% of participants improved their scores on the nutrition knowledge surveys, while 38% showed no change. Forty‐six percent of participants reported, “looking forward to coming to each lesson‐ a lot”. Dietary records are currently being analyzed. A revised program for this population is in preparation. Supported in part by University of California at Davis, Summer Session Research Fund.