Growing Healthy Eaters
by Christina Meyer-Jax, Tastemaker in Residence
Several years ago, my son came home from kindergarten with a sprouted sunflower plant. He was very eager to plant this seedling right in my small raised bed. As a little league player, he was sure that he could grow enough sunflower seeds to supply his team with all the snacks they would need come game days.
That’s what makes spring so wonderful! It’s the hope and promise that comes with digging in the dirt and carefully attending to your desired product. By August, my son’s sunflower literally took over the garden! It had received so much love and attention, it grew beyond even his expectations.
What else did this small seedling produce? I now have an avid young gardener who cheerfully grabs the shovel every spring and plants new hope each season.
In my profession, and as a mom, I am often asked how to get children to eat fruits and veggies. One of the best ways is to involve them in growing their food!
When hard work and ownership are part of the process, there is motivation is eating the fruits (ha! pun intended) of your labor.
Want to grow healthy eaters? Get your garden on!
For additional resources check out:
http://www.childrenandnature.org/downloads/CYEfactsheet3gardening2009.
Books: Food Not Lawns: How to turn your yard into a garden and your neighborhood into a community.
The Edible Front Yard