Nutrition and wellness haven’t always gone hand in hand with youth-centered programs. One registered dietitian, Alexis Motley, is helping to change that. After seeing that many low-income communities in Louisiana were lacking in the areas of wellness education, she started a program called “My Kid Plate Garden Project.” She says that the program was born during the Covid-19 shutdown. Alexis, the mother of two small boys, wanted to teach her sons the value and benefits of growing their own food. She states that in doing so she also realized that many of her own clients did not have access to healthy food options. She set out to change that by starting an initiative that allows youth to partake in the gardening process right at their learning centers and schools.
She says that many children across the state are not afforded the opportunity to eat fresh fruits or vegetables on a daily basis. Often, in these communities, there is an extreme lack of supermarkets, limited fresh produce, or only convenience stores. These areas are unfortunately deemed a “food desert” by the United States of Agriculture. Parents are also often left to contend with inflated prices from these stores which leaves a healthy food deficiency among the youth in said areas. The “My Kid Plate Garden Project” aims to get children excited about healthy food and encourages them to taste the “fruits of their labor”. These on-site gardens are used to assist children in trying new healthy food options. It also serves to encourage the children to try new healthy food options. The program encourages the children to eat the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables per the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The harvested produce is used for either menu items for breakfast, lunch, or other healthy snacks. Any produce that cannot be used at the school is donated to local food pantries.
Teachers are given nutrition education materials and recipes to help parents and children learn about each food that they are growing in school. Teachers and students are responsible for maintaining the garden. However, volunteers throughout the community are encouraged to participate in the upkeep and maintenances. The program also provides tools and knowledge to the school’s staff and parents on how to grow healthy alternatives at their schools or their very own homes. The project targets early education centers and the target ages are 2-4 years old. It is the program’s belief that healthy children will create healthy communities in the future. Alexis says that she’s especially passionate about health education in her own state because studies show that Louisiana is considered one of the 8 most obese states in the United States with over 20% of children being classified obese or at risk of becoming so. Obesity can be linked to many chronic diseases such as Type-2 Diabetes and Hypertension among others.
She states that she understands the African American community can often find it discouraging at the thought of “doing away” with some of our cultural favorite meals. Alexis says it’s important to note that all foods can be enjoyed in moderation and food staples such as collard greens can be just as healthy as kale. Again, she says, moderation is key. Favored seasonings can be enjoyed as well as long as it’s not used in excess. Alexis says that although every Louisiana school might not be able to benefit from her program, parents should know that starting a garden with their child in their own yard at home can be just as rewarding and beneficial. She offers these tips to get started.
•Start small- You don’t need a large yard to teach your children about gardening. (Plant beans and sunflowers in cups placed in a sunny window. Grow a tomato plant in a pot. Grow a small window garden of flowers.)
•Choose high-interest plants-To encourage your child to learn about gardening, allow them to choose which plant to grow.
•Use the right tools. -Every garden needs a set of tools and gardening gloves.
•Create good habits.-Gardening success has as much to do with consistency as with skill. Teach your child/children to store the tools away after every use. Set aside 15-20 minutes once or twice a week to work in a garden.
•Eat and enjoy the fruits of your labor.-Children get first-hand experience of the food cycle when they can grow what appears on the dinner table.
To learn more about the “The My Kid Plate Garden Project” please visit
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