PHR Protocol-project ref- 09/3001/19 - Version 1.3 - Date 22/03/12 - Does the Royal Horticultural Society Campaign for School Gardening increase intake of fruit and vegetables in children?

Sep 17, 2026

Clinical protocol text examining whether the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Campaign for School Gardening increases children’s intake of fruit and vegetables. The aims cover vegetable and fruit intake for children aged 8–9, effects on other foods and drinks, and impacts on key nutrients including fat, carbohydrate, protein, vitamin C, carotene, iron, sodium, and folate. Effectiveness is defined by increased mean intake at follow-up after baseline adjustment. Background links poor nutrition to major global public health risks and obesity, and reviews evidence from school-based nutrition education and garden-based approaches.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages26

Reading Time1 h 6 min

AccessFree to download

Aims

Trial 1 and 2 aims

Background

Poor nutrition and public health impact

Diet, chronic disease risk, and obesity

School-based nutrition education evidence

School gardens as an education tool

PHR Protocol-project ref: 09/300 1/19 Version: 1.3 Date: 22/03/12 Does the Royal Horticultural Society Campaign for School Gardening increase intake of fruit and vegetables in children? Chief investigator Sponsor Funder ISRCTN registration (if applicable) Professor Janet Cade University of Leeds Public Health Research programme ISRCTN11396528 09/3001/19 Cade protocol version:1 .2 [24/03/11] 1 Does the Royal Horticultural Society Campaign for School Gardening increase intake of fruit and vegetables in children? 1. Aims: The following aims apply to Trial 1 and 2: Can the RHS Campaign lead to increases in vegetable and fruit intake in children aged 8-9 years? Does the RHS Campaign affect children's intake of other food and drink e.g. savoury snacks, confectionery products, soft drinks? What is the effect ofthe RHS Campaign on intake of key nutrients (fat, carbohydrate, protein, vitamin C, carotene, iron, sodium, folate)? The effectiveness of either intervention would be determined by an increase in mean intake in one of the following; mean intake of fruit, mean intake of vegetables, or mean intake of fruit and vegetables at follow-up after adjusting for baseline. 2. Background: The impact of poor nutrition in children is causing major public health concerns across the globe [1]. Fruit and vegetables are a fundamental component of a healthy diet[2] . Currently, children’s consumption of fruit and vegetables is low in United States of America, Australia and most European countries,[3-5] with the average intake of fruit and vegetables for children in the UK being around 2.5 servings per day[6] . In British children the main source of energy intake is from chips, biscuitsand crisps[6], the need for public health intervention to improve children’s overall diet habits is evident[7] . Epidemiological evidence indicates that a diet rich in fruit and vegetables can decrease the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity and several forms of cancer[1, 8] . A diet low in fruit and vegetable intake is one of the top ten risk factors for global mortality5. Research has also revealed that dietary habits are developed in childhood and persist throughout life; therefore it is vital that children at a young age consume adequate levels of fruit and vegetables[9, 10] . Several studies indicate that children’s fruit and vegetable 09/3001/19 Cade protocol version:1 .2 [24/03/11] 2 intake is positively associated with their parent’s intake[11] . Of particular public concern is the rise of obesity in children[12] . National surveys state that approximately one in ten children under the age often is obese, further estimates predict that 80% of children who are obese at the age of 10 to 14 will remain obese into adulthood[13]. Diet plays a fundamental role in weight management, having a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables, which are low energy density foods, could help tackle this epidemic[14] . Several different nutrition educations programmes have been developed for schools, home and community settings in an attempt to improve children’s diets[15-22] . Evidence suggests that the most effective interventions are multi-component with school and home based components [23, 24] . Successful intervention studies have included a variety of components; integrating teaching about fruit and vegetables into the curriculum, training teachers in theories of behaviour changing and nutritional education, increasing fruit and vegetable availability at school and in school meals, training of catering staff (verbal encouragement), hands-on exposure (tasting and preparation sessions), parental involvement through newsletters and homework activities, whole school approach (developing a nutrition policy, evening activities) and community involvement (local fruit and vegetable industry)[20, 23-30] . These intervention programmes report a moderate increase in

FAQs

What is the primary question of this protocol?

Whether the Royal Horticultural Society Campaign for School Gardening increases children’s intake of fruit and vegetables.

Which age group and outcomes are targeted in the aims?

Children aged 8–9 are targeted, with outcomes including fruit and vegetable intake and effects on other foods and drinks.

How is effectiveness determined in the trial?

By an increase in mean intake at follow-up for fruit, vegetables, or both, adjusted for baseline.

Sep 17, 2026

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