The grassy courtyard just outside the main office at Chatham Elementary School is now home to what faculty and students hope will become a lush garden filled with spinach, lettuce, radishes and herbs.

Each of the school’s 34 classes participated in planting seeds Wednesday, establishing the first Gen H (Generation Healthy) garden to promote healthy eating habits. Similar gardens will be planted at Southern View Elementary and Black Hawk Elementary, both in Springfield, next week.

The gardens are one way the coalition, founded by Springfield internal medicine physician Dr. Kemia Sarraf, aims to fight childhood obesity.

The coalition consists of medical and public health professionals, educators, parents, community leaders and organizations that hope to encourage physical activity and improved nutrition at local schools.

Working with schools in the Ball-Chatham and Springfield school districts, the coalition also is trying to help lunch staffs improve menus, conducting parent education seminars and starting a “Walk Across America” running/walking contest.

“Physical activity and good nutrition will raise your kids’ test scores. Just making them healthier will make their brains work better,” Sarraf said.

Latha Pandrangi, who has a doctorate in food science and nutrition, chairs the coalition’s nutrition team, which created the school garden idea.

“Since the kids have ownership of the space, they’re more likely to try what they grow,” she said.

The coalition also has sent letters home to parents in both school districts outlining healthy snack options. Sarraf says the coalition hopes to talk to school boards about revising snack policies to keep sugary and other unhealthy treats from being common in classrooms.

In the “Walk Across America” program, students and staff members will compete daily to run or walk as many laps as they can. The goal is to log as many miles as the distance on Interstate 90 from Boston to San Francisco, Sarraf said.

“We want to teach children how to make their own best choices,” she said.

Amanda Reavy can be reached at (217) 788-1525 or amanda.reavy@sj-r.com.

The Gen H Coalition wants to work with area schools to promote healthy eating habits and increased physical activity. For more information or to volunteer, email founder and director Kemia Sarraf at genh.sarraf@gmail.com.