Now more than ever kids are disconnected from their food and seem to think that food simply comes from the grocery store. Transforming the way children eat and perceive food is no small feat, but it is important for kids to understand where their food is coming from. For this to happen there needs to be a shift in perception - a new understanding of health in relation to our bodies, the food we eat, where it comes from, and our environment. This shift is not as hard to make as you may think. The following list includes some fun idea’s that can help educate your children on where their food comes from, and who knows; the whole family might learn something new on the way!
· Go on a farm tour
· Take your children to the farmers market
· Go grocery shopping and let them pick out a vegetable they want to try (even if you don’t like it)
· Let them help you prepare dinner
Farm Fresh Soup
One of my favorite memories as a child was when my grade one class went on a tour of a local farm. It was an old McDonald type of farm so it had a little bit of everything including crops, cows, chickens, pigs, and goats. At the end of the tour we all got to pick out a vegetable to take back to our class room. Once we got back to the class room we put all of our vegetables together along with some noodles and made a soup out of all our finds. This experience was so much fun and was a day that I will never forget. This experience would be easy to replicate at your own home and is a fun, fast, and easy way to get your kids involved.
Creating positive food experiences with your kids will help them develop healthy eating patterns. Also, teaching your kids to cook will provide them with other skills that last a lifetime. For instance, learning to cook as a family will:
· Increase your child’s self esteem. Being able to accomplishing a task and see it through the whole way will show them that they can make a difference and be independent.
· Creates family bonding time. Taking time to cook with your kids will provide them with memories that they, in turn, can pass on to their families. It may take a longer time to get the meal or snack done but the moments with your children will be priceless.
· Kids will be more apt to eat what they make. Perhaps, it is the enthusiasm of creating something themselves, but they will be more likely to eat whatever they had a hand in making.
Hi Andrea,
ReplyDeleteI certainly agree with you. I had a little sister who is 8 years younger than I am. She is very picky to a point that if the food is not up to her standard, of her preference, she won't touch the food. When she was little, she would even tell my parents and I, she would rather starve than eat the yucky food! We tried the tactic you have mentioned as well as joining a children cooking class and it definitely worked. Most of the time, I believe that it is the peer pressure that makes her gives in and tries the food. If no one dislikes the food, this means she has to swallow the food.
What's going on in children's mind is very interesting.
Take care
Rachel SY Lau http://rachylily.wordpress.com/
Hello Andrea,
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great point! I've always grown up in the city, and it was such a novelty to hear of people growing veggies in their backyard or having herb pots on the window sill. Thanks for reminding us of this! "Farmers feed cities" right? :)
Janet
Hi Andrea,
ReplyDeleteI think it's wonderful to here someone else touting the benefits of children visiting a farm and picking out produce. I remember in my junior kinderguarten class we visited a farm called "Farmer Jacks" near London. We were all allowed to pick an apple and eat it. It's experiences such as this that add to your acceptance of new foods and are not easily forgotten. As well, I think it's important that children know where their food comes from.
Lindsay