︎ Nutrition by Design
How to promote a healthy diet and improve social engagement through the experience of gardening?
By Tia Blanchard ︎ , Marco Dominguez ︎
Hypothesis
When it comes to a healthy diet, it can be a challenge when identifying and understanding what ingredients and dishes fall under the category of nutritional eating. By providing a community garden meant for all ages, intergenerational social engagment is intergrated with the access to fresh and affordable foods mended by the hands of the community. The use of a garden empowers individuals to create healthier dishes made from the ingredients grown by their own hands and encourages the experience with others.
When it comes to a healthy diet, it can be a challenge when identifying and understanding what ingredients and dishes fall under the category of nutritional eating. By providing a community garden meant for all ages, intergenerational social engagment is intergrated with the access to fresh and affordable foods mended by the hands of the community. The use of a garden empowers individuals to create healthier dishes made from the ingredients grown by their own hands and encourages the experience with others.
- Why?
Finding fresh, affordable food can be difficult to find and understanding what foods are beneficial to the body and mind are not always so simple to recognize. Unknowing the full benefits of a healthy diet can lead to a negative influence on nutritional choices causing a decline in health of body and mind.
- How?
Through researching nutritional benefits on positive thinking, well-being, and physical health, we can establish a design that encourages healthy choices by providing knowledge on nutritional decisions and affordable foods through intergenerational and educational gardening.
- What?
The project goal is to create a garden space for all ages to interact and engage while learning of the nutritional benefits of the foods they produce and how they may further develop healthier choices to share within their homes with friends and family. The garden is meant to provide individuals with fresh and affordable food that is to be shared with others.
- So What?
Gardens ensure fresh fruits and vegetables to those who provide the upkeep, empowering individuals to choose healthier dishes and make healthier decisions. The use of intergenerational gardens adds for social interaction across all ages and the sharing of knowledge.
The design continum shows the topics proposed in the database.
Design to Outcomes
It is in our own understanding that when providing the community with the space and tools to garden fresh foods with no age restrictions, social interactions are met through intergenerational engagement and individuals have the opportunity to grow and consume nutrional foods while providing freshness and affordability.
︎︎︎Download Nutrition by Design Poster
︎
Works Cited
1. Crichton-Stuart, Cathleen. (December 10, 2020). What are the Benefits of Eating Healthy? Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322268
2. Knott, Dr. Laurence. (September 16, 2020). Healthy Eating. Patient. https://patient.info/healthy-living/healthy-eating
3. (October 29, 2020). 5 Science-Based Reasons Why Healthy Cooking Is Important? Happy Belly Fish. https://happybellyfish.com/2020/10/29/5-science-based-reasons-why-healthy-cooking-is-important/
4. Hasan, Bashar., Thompson, Warren G., Almasri, Jahad., Wang, Zhen., Lakis, Sumaya., Prokop, Larry J., Hensrud, Donald D., Frie, Kristen S., Wirtz, Mary J., Murad, Angela L., Ewoldt, Jason S., Murad, M. Hassan. (2019).
5. Daniels, Pam. (January 30, 2017). The Benefits of Going to a Cooking Class. Michigan State University Extension. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/the_benefits_of_going_to_a_cooking_class
Making healthy choices can be complicated in the uncovering of healthy dishes and their nutritional benefits.