Healthy Hearts, Healthy Minds Program

The Healthy Hearts, Healthy Minds™ program, which is sponsored by the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetables Growers (OGVG) and executed in collaboration with Jumpstart Community Nutrition Partnership of Windsor & Essex County and the Ontario Student Nourishment Program, Southwest Region, is set-up as a three year test pilot.  Because obesity doubled in children and tripled in adolescents over the last decade and nearly 75% of elementary school students are not eating the recommended 5 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables each day, the OGVG strives to introduce elementary school-aged children to the nutritional benefits and great taste of Ontario greenhouse vegetables. In effect, the OGVG hopes to promote healthy eating habits and bring on board a variety of agri -food partners to demonstrate the effectiveness of a universal approach to student nourishment programs through provincial partnerships with Ontario agri-food providers.The pilot, which began in November 2004, also looks at how increased intake of fruits and vegetables would impact other eating behaviours, like snack choices and participation in the school meals programs. In the 2005-2006 school year, the pilot was implemented in 11 schools in Windsor & Essex County, and data is being collected to determine the benefits associated with implementing a universal fruit and vegetable program in Ontario schools. It is the desire of OGVG that this test program become the business model used by the provincial government to implement a province-wide program. The OGVG, in conjunction with OAFE (Ontario Agri-Food Education), has also developed a supplemental teacher’s resource guide which includes background information on the Ontario greenhouse history, its technology, and economic impact. Co-operative learning is an integral component of “Greenhouse Vegetables: Tomatoes, Cucumbers and Peppers”. Activities incorporate working in pairs and small groups as well as the entire class. The guide is also used as a tool to help increase awareness among teachers and students on the importance of eating 5 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. 

Please click here to view the Healthy Hearts, Healthy Minds™ video!