Background

Observations of sugary snacks and unbalanced meals provided to children in three basic schools in Greater August Town, Jamaica revealed that these meals do not allow for receivers to eat healthily. Multiple studies support kitchen garden to augment inadequate access to food. This 2017 study explored how kitchen gardens used in school settings added to nutritional intake of 0-3 year-olds. In Jamaica kitchen gardens align with national efforts to eradicate hunger, the national school feeding programme and support Article 24 of the CRC which speaks to ‘children have the right to good quality health care, safe drinking water, nutritious food ...to help them to stay healthy’.

Methodology

Utilizing a structured case study approach (Yin in 2012), interviews were conducted as primary data and supplemented with secondary data source and observation assisted analysis of factors associated with food security. Key ResultsThe kitchen garden proved to be a cost saving measure for the schools and eased economic constraints caused by non-payment of fees by unemployed parents. The garden has also been incorporated as a learning aid in teaching the students integrated studies whichconsists of various subjects.

Impact

The Kitchen garden provides healthy meals for children, it reduces the monies spent on food at the schools, and helps to enhance the children’s competency in literacy and numeracy.

Policy recommendation

Basic Schools should have start-up support to operate gardens as centres of learning and school feeding contributor.