DALLAS, March 2, 2023 — Fifty communities nationwide are expanding hands-on nutrition education with $2,500 grants from the American Heart Association’s Teaching Gardens® program, helping address healthy eating challenges facing our nation’s children and families. Access to healthy foods directly impacts a person’s health over their lifetime, but most children are not eating recommended amounts of fruits or vegetables, consuming less than one serving of each per day.[1]
Including these new awards, the American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all, with support from CAULIPOWER, makers of ready-to-use plant-powered food items, has now funded 150 grants over three years to schools and community gardens nationwide. The financial grants boost garden-based learning, helping enable equitable access to healthy foods and innovating nutrition education nationwide.
Through the Association’s Teaching Gardens® program, part of its Teaching Gardens Network, schools and community gardens turn the outdoors into a classroom with an interactive nutrition curriculum to help kids make healthy food choices and build positive, lifelong nutrition habits.
“It’s critical that all kids have access to fresh fruits and vegetables and to proper nutrition education regardless of where they live to support growth and create a strong foundation for a healthy life,” said Michelle Albert, M.D., MPH, FACC, FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, professor of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) and Admissions Dean for UCSF Medical School. “We had the difficult task of selecting just 50 awardees out of nearly 250 applicants this year. Congratulations to all of the grant recipients and thank you for your commitment to supporting healthy kids by building healthier communities.”
According to the Association’s Heart Disease and Stroke 2023 Statistical Update, it's estimated that children and teens consume less than 1 serving of fruits or vegetables per day, which puts them at higher risk of cardiovascular risk factors, such as childhood diabetes and high blood pressure. Developing cardiovascular risk factors early in life exponentially increases a child’s risk of heart disease and stroke in adulthood.
“These gardens are innovative, outdoor laboratories where kids can learn the benefits of healthy eating,” said Gail Becker, Founder of CAULIPOWER and an American Heart Association volunteer. “School and community gardens are essential spaces to cultivate fresh produce and learn about the magic of vegetables. CAULIPOWER couldn’t be more proud to have supported this vital health initiative since Day One.”
The 2023 grant recipients include:
Alabama
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Illinois
Kansas
Massachusetts
Maryland
Minnesota
Mississippi
North Carolina
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Grant recipients are encouraged to share ideas and success stories here. Stories may be featured on the Teaching Gardens website or in a Teaching Gardens Network e-newsletter.
Additional Resources:
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173
Tracie Bertaut: 214-706-1235 Tracie.Bertaut@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
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