Fueling Bright Futures: a mixed-methods case study on integrating gardens, canteens, and nutrition training in philippine public schools.
6 affiliations
- 1Helen Keller Intl, New York, NY, USA. [email protected].
- 2Helen Keller Intl, Manila, Philippines.
- 3International Institute of Rural Reconstruction, Cavite, Philippines.
- 4Helen Keller Intl, New York, NY, USA.
- 5Helen Keller Intl, Kathmandu, Nepal.
- 6Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Abstract
Introduction
This mixed-methods case study evaluates Fueling Bright Futures, an integrated approach involving enhancing school gardens, improving the menu of canteen, and providing nutrition education in three public schools in Cavite, Philippines. The intervention addresses both undernutrition and overweight and obesity, tackling the double burden of malnutrition among Filipino schoolchildren.Methods
This mixed-methods study was conducted in three public elementary schools in Cavite, Philippines. Baseline and endline assessments (Apr 2024, Feb 2025) included canteen menu audits (per DepEd Order 13), garden inventories, and focus groups with staff and administrators. Effectiveness and scalability were evaluated using the Intervention Scalability Assessment Tool (ISAT) in participatory workshops with policymakers and stakeholders. Qualitative data from all sessions were coded and thematically analyzed via NVivo14 and mapped to ISAT domains.Results
All the schools made substantial gains in garden output, dietary diversity, and the nutritional quality of canteen offerings. The number of "green" menu items increased sharply (School A: 2-11 per week), whereas the number of "red" foods decreased substantially (School B: 10-2 per week; School C: 13-4). Canteen staff adjusted recipes to use more garden produce, although some packaged snacks persisted. Barriers included limited resources, irregular garden supplies, time constraints, and outside processed food vendors. Strong leadership and community participation elevated acceptability, but infrastructure and sustainability challenges persisted.Conclusions
Improving and integrating school gardens, improved canteen menus, and staff training can enhance school food environments in resource-limited schools. Success requires strong leadership, partnerships, practical planning, and sustained resources. Ongoing investment and collaboration are critical to building nutrition-friendly school environments that support students' health and well-being.
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BibTeX
@article{hoang2026fueling,
title = {{Fueling Bright Futures: a mixed-methods case study on integrating gardens, canteens, and nutrition training in philippine public schools.}},
author = {Mai A Hoang and Patricia Isabel A Matienzo and Diana Jean Umali and Ma Shiela Anunciado and Lisa Littrell and Susan Del Rio and Aman Sen Gupta and Tom van Mourik and Lauren DeVol and Rolf Klemm and Emilita Monville-Oro and Dolly Reario},
journal = {BMC public health},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12889-026-28430-w},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928154},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Fueling Bright Futures: a mixed-methods case study on integrating gardens, canteens, and nutrition training in philippine public schools.
AU - Mai A Hoang
AU - Patricia Isabel A Matienzo
AU - Diana Jean Umali
AU - Ma Shiela Anunciado
AU - Lisa Littrell
AU - Susan Del Rio
AU - Aman Sen Gupta
AU - Tom van Mourik
AU - Lauren DeVol
AU - Rolf Klemm
AU - Emilita Monville-Oro
AU - Dolly Reario
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/29
JO - BMC public health
DO - 10.1186/s12889-026-28430-w
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928154
AB - Introduction This mixed-methods case study evaluates Fueling Bright Futures, an integrated approach involving enhancing school gardens, improving the menu of canteen, and providing nutrition education in three public schools in Cavite, Philippines. The intervention addresses both undernutrition and overweight and obesity, tackling the double burden of malnutrition among Filipino schoolchildren.Methods This mixed-methods study was conducted in three public elementary schools in Cavite, Philippines. Baseline and endline assessments (Apr 2024, Feb 2025) included canteen menu audits (per DepEd Order 13), garden inventories, and focus groups with staff and administrators. Effectiveness and scalability were evaluated using the Intervention Scalability Assessment Tool (ISAT) in participatory workshops with policymakers and stakeholders. Qualitative data from all sessions were coded and thematically analyzed via NVivo14 and mapped to ISAT domains.Results All the schools made substantial gains in garden output, dietary diversity, and the nutritional quality of canteen offerings. The number of "green" menu items increased sharply (School A: 2-11 per week), whereas the number of "red" foods decreased substantially (School B: 10-2 per week; School C: 13-4). Canteen staff adjusted recipes to use more garden produce, although some packaged snacks persisted. Barriers included limited resources, irregular garden supplies, time constraints, and outside processed food vendors. Strong leadership and community participation elevated acceptability, but infrastructure and sustainability challenges persisted.Conclusions Improving and integrating school gardens, improved canteen menus, and staff training can enhance school food environments in resource-limited schools. Success requires strong leadership, partnerships, practical planning, and sustained resources. Ongoing investment and collaboration are critical to building nutrition-friendly school environments that support students' health and well-being.
SN - 1471-2458
ER -