Nudging children toward healthier food choices: An experiment combining school and home gardens

Starting Date: January 2018
Ending Date: December 2019
Location: Sindhupalchok district
Donor(s): Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and DFID
Implementation Partner(s): World Vegetable Center, Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) & Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ)

This project will test the hypothesis that school garden programs can nudge children aged 8-12 toward healthier diets. The project builds on an existing WorldVeg school garden program (including hands-on gardening and nutrition education), but adds a home garden component that trains parents in gardening and nutrition—and encourages parents and children to work together to improve family nutrition. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, the study will provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms through which school-based interventions can influence children’s food choices. ANSAB will carry out the home garden component of the project.